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Year 12

Subject Masterclasses in November 2016

Subject Masterclasses provide students with an opportunity to explore topics of interest beyond what is covered within their school syllabus and offer the chance to experience typical undergraduate teaching at Cambridge. They are aimed at academically able Year 12 students from any school/college. Including two taster lectures delivered by leading academic members of staff from the University and the opportunity to discuss and ask questions, the masterclasses offer students a true flavour of undergraduate study and an introduction to the University of Cambridge.

CUSU Shadowing Scheme is open!

The CUSU Shadowing Scheme is open for applications again! The Shadowing Scheme brings UK students from schools without a tradition of top university entry to Cambridge for three days.

Over three weekends (Thursday to Saturday) in January and February prospective students come to Cambridge and spend time with a current undergraduate. The idea is to give people with little or no experience of university a taste of student life at Cambridge, by 'shadowing' a Cambridge student, studying a subject that they are interested in. Shadows stay in college accommodations, eat their meals in the college halls and follow their mentors to lectures, seminars and supervisions. They also get the chance to have a taste of social life and the fun activities that Cambridge students enjoy in their free time to get a rounded picture of what studying at Cambridge means.

Pairing socks

Here is a problem from i-want-to-study-engineering.org, the website written by Cambridge University Engineering department that helps you to apply for Engineering courses at top universities.

Jane has 5 pairs of socks. The first pair of socks are both red. The second pair of socks are both blue. The third pair of socks are both green. The fourth pair of socks are both yellow. The fifth pair of socks are both white. One sock from each pair is placed in a bag on the left, and the rest are put in a bag on the right.

In each turn, Jane draws one sock at random from each bag and folds them together to form a pair. After five turns, she has formed 5 pairs of socks. Find the probability that no pair consists of socks of the same colour.

Isaac Physics

Isaac Physics provides resources to offer support and activities in physics problem-solving to students (and teachers) working from GCSE (Year 11), through sixth form (Years 12 & 13), and to university.

Scrambled Eggs Podcasts

Scrambled Eggs is a series of podcasts aimed at helping Year 11 and 12 students to explore their subjects and think about what they'd like to study at University. These are ten to fifteen minute discussions with university academics, many of them professors from the University of Oxford. Here are just a few:

The Economics of Austerity

Dr Ha-Joon Chang, from Cambridge University's Faculty of Economics, interviewed with Owen Wilson recently for The Guardian. Dr Chang discusses the Conservative party's austerity programme, arguing that austerity is a ‘self-defeating strategy’ and an attempt to undermine the welfare state. The Cambridge professor also talks about inequality, asking whether the UK has ‘socialism for the rich and capitalism for the poor’. You can watch the full interview here.

Shakespeare - Where to start?

All students studying English at Cambridge take a paper (a module) on Shakespeare in their first or second year, but it can be daunting deciding where to begin with 38 plays and over a hundred poems to be getting on with!

You might like to start by looking back at what you’ve already covered. Many students have studied at least one of Shakespeare’s Tragedies at school (Macbeth, King Lear or Hamlet might be familiar?) or one the Comedies (Much Ado about Nothing or Twelfth Night?). You may even have approached a play that fits more problematically into both of or between these categories, such as The Tempest or The Merchant of Venice.

But have you ever read, or seen performed, one of the History plays? Or read some of Shakespeare's sonnets? Reading or watching one the poems or plays you've never come across before can be a good (and fun!) place to start. You can find all of Shakespeare's works online on Open Source Shakespeare or Shakespeare Online.

Want to visit Cambridge during the summer?

Prospective students are always welcome to visit

Remember that you are welcome to visit any time, even if there's not an official open day on.

If you would like to look around a college, it is best to introduce yourself at the porters' lodge (the reception). Porters are normally happy for prospective students to walk around the public areas and will give you any maps / information available. There's also a map of Cambridge, which shows where the colleges are. You'll see that the middle of Cambridge is quite small, so you will be able to walk between most colleges easily.

If you would like to visit King's, do introduce yourself at the porters' lodge when you arrive. The college will be open to prospective students and we have a self-guided tour that you can use.

You may like to visit on a day when we're running an informal meeting for prospective students. Do email us with your name and the subject you are interested in if you would like to book a place one one of these meetings.

STEP Mathematics resources

Cambridge University has a free online STEP Mathematics course designed for students preparing to take STEP papers in the summer of 2017 (STEP exams are required if you are applying for Mathematics or Computer Science with Mathematics at King's).

The course has online modules for individual study, which are open to everyone.

Examples of historical writing

Reading in Chetwynd Court

Are you interested in applying for one of the History degrees this October? Remember that the application process is not only about grades! We will be looking for students who have developed their interests in History and have the potential to succeed in this subject at Cambridge.

Students stay in undergraduate accommodation for 4 nights and experience undergraduate life by attending lectures and practicals led by university academics, and also through social activities put on by the college. In previous years, the summer school has been solely for those interested in the sciences, however this year it will be expanding to cover both the arts and sciences. The event allows students to discover more about what it is like to study at University, particularly the University of Cambridge, and their course of interest, whilst experiencing student life. The Summer School is free of charge, including meals and accommodation. Travel grants are also available on a means tested basis.

How is Britain Changing?

The competition for the Young Geographer of the Year Award provides students with the opportunity to explore geographical change from many different perspectives, at both local and national scales.

To enter, sixth form students must produce a 1500 word essay. Entries which illustrate how students have collected and used data from a variety of sources, including the collection of first-hand data through fieldwork, are encouraged. You can find full information, including details for how younger students can enter, on the entry form.

St John's Archaeology Summer School

St John's College is hosting a 4-day residential Archaeology summer school from the 25-28 July for current Year 12 students. This will be an exciting opportunity to discover both the academic and practical basis of Archaeology as a University subject at Cambridge. It will include sample lectures and tutorials, workshops, and excavation. Topics will reflect the breadth of the Cambridge Archaeology degree, which also offers tracks in Egyptology, Assyriology, and Biological Anthropology.

As a subject which uniquely spans the Arts and the Sciences, Archaeology is suitable for students with a broad range of A level subjects. Participants are not required to be doing Archaeology A level, and the content of the summer school will presume no previous knowledge. There will also be guidance on admissions and interviews.

The summer school is absolutely free to attend. Further details are available on the St John's website. The deadline for applications is 15 June.

Power, War and Conflict Global Issues Day

Are you in year 12 and thinking about applying to Cambridge? Not sure what subject you want to take? Interested in how power is created or how people are affected by war? St John's College is running a Year 12 Power, War and Conflict Global Issues Day on the 17 June. This will be a cross displinary introduction to the theme of 'Power, War and Conflict' and will feature lectures from a variety of different subject backgrounds.

The programme for the day will include a chance to experience lectures from academics at St John's College, as well as supervision style teaching. There will also be the chance to meet current students and hear about making a competitive application to Cambridge.

Geography fieldwork summer school

Do you want to bring classroom learning to life, improve your geographical skills and knowledge and prepare for university?

The Royal Geographical Society's Learning and Leading programme is holding a fully funded, residential fieldwork summer school for geography students at the end of their first year of AS studies (or equivalent) in August 2016 at the Cranedale Centre in Yorkshire. Packed full of outdoor fieldwork in a variety of environments with some additional team-building exercises and classroom based GIS and data analysis sessions, the Summer School is run by experienced geography tutors from the field centre. It is tailored to supplement the national curriculum and introduce you to new and exciting ways of studying geography.

There are only 16 places available and the deadline for applying is 5pm on Friday 20 May 2016. Please read the guidance notes for full details and eligibility guidelines before applying and click here for an application form.

Reading Suggestions for Geography

Thinking of applying for Geography? There is no required reading for applicants, but the Director of Studies in Geography has provided some interesting and helpful reading suggestions to give a flavour of the material that you can study in the course. We also advise you to follow up on areas of your school courses that you have enjoyed.

An Introduction to Studying the Ancient World

This study day on 29 June is aimed at those who have just finished AS-Levels and are beginning work on A2-Level Classical Civilization, Greek, or Latin. The day will consist of lectures, given by experts who teach and study at the University of Cambridge, which will introduce you to the A2 topics and the A2 set texts (and in particular their historical and cultural context) that you will be studying. There will also be an opportunity to take a guided tour of our famous collection of casts of ancient sculpture, to visit one of the Cambridge Colleges, to find out more about making a successful application to University, and - for those who have not yet studied one of the ancient languages - to participate in a taster session in Latin or Greek. See this year’s full programme, to get a taste of what is on offer, and click here to book your place.

If you're thinking of attending one of the Cambridge Open Days on the 30 June and 1 July and you're interested in Classics, the Classics Faculty will be running Is Cambridge Classics for You? a talk about studying Classics at Cambridge, a session for the parents of potential Classics students, a sample lecture which helps you find out what it’s like to study Classics here, and a stall where potential students can get personalised information and advice from Classics lecturers and students. To attend this event, please register here.

University of York Subject Conferences

The University of York have several Subject Conferences scheduled for June and July this year. These events give Year 12 and mature students the chance to explore a particular subject in depth and have a taste of what university level study is like. The days include lectures, some practical workshops, a campus tour and the opportunity to talk to staff and current students.

13 June 2016 - Philosophy - includes a keynote talk from leading academic Owen Hulatt, lectures from research academics in the Department of Philosophy, seminar sessions and an optional campus tour. Deadline for applications: Monday 6 June 2016

22 June 2016 - Psychology - an exciting look at the mind, brain, and behaviour. It includes taster lectures on current research, hands-on practicals and demonstrations, as well as the chance to speak with current students about their experience as undergraduates. Booking required, limited places.

6 July 2016 - Chemistry - includes a keynote lecture by a member of academic research staff from the Department of Chemistry, a tour of spectroscopic techniques, molecular modelling workshop, lab activities, advice on applications, and an optional campus tour. Deadline for applications: 27 June 2016

The Charles Darwin Papers

The Charles Darwin Papers in Cambridge University Library hold nearly the entire existing collection of Darwin’s working scientific papers. Among these documents are Charles Darwin’s Evolution Manuscripts, his papers on the transmutation of species. Using these notebooks, annotations, and portfolios, Darwin wrote the nine of his fifteen books that set down, enlarged and defended the theory of evolution by natural selection. You can find the papers online at the Darwin Manuscripts Project.

The Darwin Correspondence Project also holds online resources for students, including a Darwin Timeline showing the key moments in Darwin's life and what was happening in Britain at the time, plus a series of audio clips and videos on Darwin's work. For example, the Face of Emotion series discusses Darwin’s work on expression in the context of current research in artificial intelligence, autism, and neuroscience. You can even try Darwin's Emotion Experiment for yourself here.

Inside Dyson's new engineering centre at Cambridge University

The Dyson Centre for Engineering Design opens today at Cambridge University, a new building that has been constructed with a £8m grant from the Dyson Foundation. The Centre will provide the space for 1,200 engineers to build prototypes, test, and collaborate on projects. The Centre provides:

Modern rapid prototyping hardware such as 3D printers, and materials for rapid 3D printing and 2D cutting

A range of hands‐on and interactive aids demonstrating new engineering concepts

Interactive apparatus to familiarise and offer experiences of engineering concepts giving students knowledge and confidence to invent and innovate their own designs and creations

The undergraduate space is already a hive of activity, with students creating models on the new 3D printers, using the new laser cutters, and even making their own parts in the machine tooling area. You can read more about the Centre in this article or find out about studying Engineering at King's.

Subject tasters at Cambridge including an overnight stay

The Wren Library at Trinity College

Are you in Year 12? Do you want to attend subject taster events but struggle because you live some way from Cambridge? Some Cambridge Colleges offer taster events including an overnight stay, which will be very helpful if you want to find out more about what studying your chosen course will be like. There is no obligation to apply to the College organising the event (though you are welcome to if you want to).

All of the following residentials are free of charge, including accommodation and all meals. Do read the full information and check for eligibility criteria before making an application:

Booking for all events below closes on 23 May. It's an extended deadline - please ignore the part on the page where it says that booking has closed. You'll see the extended deadline on the application form.

Selwyn College Arts and Humanities Taster Day 2016

Selwyn College will be hosting an interdiscipinary taster day for year 12's (or equivalent) interested in the arts and humanities on 29 June 2016.

Come and see what it’s like to study Art History, History, Italian, Archaeology, Anthropology, Film, and Linguistics at the University of Cambridge. At this Arts and Humanities Taster Day themed around Italy, you will travel (virtually) through the peninsula with University of Cambridge scholars as your guides. The day will involve a number of lectures, discussions, and an interactive session in one of the University of Cambridge’s museums.

Applicants must; be in year 12 (or equivalent), attend a state school or college, and be on track to achieve results that make them a competetive Oxbridge applicant. Please book a place on this event, the closing date for applications is Wednesday 25 May 2016.

What is it like to be a King's mathematician?

A corridor party in the Keynes accommodation

We hope that you are enjoying the new accounts in the King's Student Perspectives series. We now have a new one for Maths as well - Ellen has very kindly shared her experiences as a second year Maths student at King's.

If you are interested in applying for maths and you want to find out more about STEP papers after reading this account, do have a look at our Maths page, and in particular the resources section, which has some useful links for STEP Exams.

Topical news debate

Can you think of a recent news story that has particularly interested you or got you thinking? Or one that has caused a lot of controversy?

You might be interested in the weekly Question Time programmes on BBC 1, with topical discussion and debate chaired by David Dimbleby. This week's programme was filmed in Hull and the panellists were Conservative communities secretary Greg Clark, Labour's shadow home secretary Andy Burnham, former leader of the SNP Alex Salmond, former director of the Centre for Policy Studies Jill Kirby, and hedge fund manager and chairman of the ARK chain of academies Paul Marshall.

Free Taster Day in Latin and Classics

Have you ever tried learning Latin? Do you want to give it a go? The Classics Faculty is holding a Latin Taster Day on Saturday 18 June 2016 so that you can explore learning Latin for the first time, with language classes and a lecture on the Ancient World.

As the Classics course at Cambridge has a four-year option for students who are studying Latin for the first time, this is a very good opportunity to get a sense of whether Classics is for you.

All school-age students are welcome. The day is free to attend, please bring a packed lunch, and there are a limited number of hardship travel bursaries available. Please see the further information and booking.

There are also upcoming events in and around London as part of Shakespeare400, a season of cultural and artistic events throughout the year celebrating Shakespeare's creative achievement and his profound influence on culture across the centuries. Events include theatre, music, opera, dance, and exhibitions. Some highlights:

In her account, Ceylon writes about why she chose the course, what the teaching is like, the workload and what she likes to do when she is not working, the social life in King's and College families, where and how she likes to do her work, and her thoughts on admissions interviews.

Saturday 30 April - Still plenty of places available on our Maths Event!

Are you thinking of studying Mathematics at Cambridge? Join us for the King's Mathematics Open Morning, followed by the Mathematics Faculty Open Afternoon on Saturday 30 April.

Prospective mathematicians arrive at 10.00 / 10.15 am and spend the morning at King's. You will have a talk and Q&A with an academic in Mathematics, a chance to meet current King's undergraduates studying Maths, and a tour of the College, as well as brunch in the College Hall.

In the afternoon we take you over to the New Museums Site where you can attend the Mathematics Faculty Open Afternoon (a series of taster lectures and information about STEP). The afternoon programme and further information is available on the Mathematics Faculty website. The event ends at 16.40.

The taster day will include two parallel streams of talks, one on Psychology and Behavioural Sciences and one on Languages and Linguistics. In addition to these talks, students will learn about applying to Cambridge and have an opportunity to take part in a question and answer session with staff and students.

Join The Conversation

The Conversation is an online source of news and views from the academic and research community. Their aim is to allow for a better understanding of current affairs and complex issues - so that conversations are started!

Theology, Religion and Philosophy of Religion Open Day - 18 April 2016

The Theology, Religion and Philosophy of Religion Open Day will take place on Monday 18 April from 1.30-4.30pm (booking required). This will give you the chance to find out about the course, hear a sample lecture, try a scriptural language, learn what students go onto after graduating, and talk to current and past students.

The afternoon will focus on studying in the faculty. To give you an idea of the role of the colleges at Cambridge, Mark Smith, Chaplain and Director of Studies at Christ's College, will be giving a tour of Christ's college and a short talk from 11am to 12pm. If you would like to attend this, please indicate on your booking form.

If you'd like to visit King's College before or after the Open Day sessions, please feel free to drop into the Porters' Lodge at the front of college to take a self-guided tour. We'll be taking students from the Faculty of Divinity after the open day finishes for an informal Q&A session in college - no booking is required for this, just wait outside the Faculty and we'll collect you. If you're not able to make it to the Q&A, please do send us an email if you have any questions.

Advice from the Computer Science Faculty

The William Gates Faculty Building on the West Cambridge Site.

Are you interested in Computer Science? Here is the Faculty advice (from the FAQ's) about developing your interests for this subject:

At the admissions stage we look for two major things: academic ability and passion for the subject. Whilst the course itself does not have any pre-requisites other than mathematics, it is difficult to discern a passion for the subject if a candidate has never tried any form of Computer Science. Therefore, from an admissions perspective, it would be wise to do something that shows your independent interest in the area. Examples of this include reading around the subject, learning a programming language, contributing to open-source projects, releasing a phone app, or building hardware (robots etc). Any one of these, when done well, would be sufficient to demonstrate your passion.

If you choose to learn a new language, it may be a good idea to learn one that is not explicitly taught in the Tripos. Doing so obviously helps to avoid repetition, but also gives you a wider perspective on languages that can be useful later in the degree and in employment. A popular choice is python, for which there are many tutorials available.

We recommend getting hold of a Raspberry Pi and following one of the many hardware and software tutorials for it on the web. An additional advantage of this route is that you will gain familiarity with the UNIX command line: a very valuable skill to have in the Tripos!

Tom's account - guess the subject!

Tom is from rural Lincolnshire and has written a detailed King's Student Perspectives account about studying at King's. But which course do you think he is describing below?

The wonderful images of artefacts and the obscure topics in the prospectus entry had me instantly hooked, and I immediately wanted to find out more about the course. I had originally intended to study History at Cambridge, and to specialise in this period, but as soon as I saw ?????? I knew straight away that it was
for me! After some further research, it was the small size of the faculty and the total freedom that the course offers from the first year that drew me to it.

The best thing about studying ????? is that it’s an intellectually stimulating experience. The course is enjoyable in its own right – the system of lectures,
translation classes and supervisions, along with the ready availability of relevant books, means that you can pursue the interests you have in mind when applying to the full. You’ll never find yourself with nothing to do – and this is not necessarily a bad thing! ????? material is interesting and it will always keep you on your toes, which makes for a challenging but enjoyable lifestyle.

Maths Open Morning at King's - Saturday 30 April

Are you thinking of studying Mathematics at Cambridge? Join us for the King's Mathematics Open Morning, followed by the Mathematics Faculty Open Afternoon on Saturday 30 April.

Prospective mathematicians arrive at 10.00 / 10.15 am and spend the morning at King's. You will have a talk and Q&A with an academic in Mathematics, a chance to meet current King's undergraduates studying Maths, and a tour of the College, as well as brunch in the College Hall.

In the afternoon we take you over to the New Museums Site where you can attend the Mathematics Faculty Open Afternoon (a series of taster lectures and information about STEP). The afternoon programme and further information is available on the Mathematics Faculty website. The event ends at 16.40.

Student Life FAQs

We recently welcomed a group of Year 12 students from East Yorkshire into King's. Some important and interesting questions about student life came up, which we hope might be helpful for others!

Do you stay in college accommdation for all years of study?

Yes, normally. All Colleges except St Edmund's provide accommodation for three years, and many also allow an additional year for students taking one of the four-year courses. See, for example, the King's accommodation page, which explains the range of modern and traditional rooms, how the room ballot system works, and the choice of rent lease periods.

Students on longer courses, such as Medicine (6 years), are likely to live outside the College accommodation at the end of their course when they have graduate status, however there is a lot of support provided by the university's accommodation service to help with this (Medicine students often share a house close to the hospital, which works well for Medicine clinical studies).

What is the workload like on a Cambridge course?

Cambridge courses are demanding, but they can also be very rewarding. We provide unparalleled learning opportunities for our students. Not only are you taught in the lecture theatre by academics who are experts in their field, but our supervision system means that you receive more personal tuition from them too. One of the most distinctive characteristics of our courses (also called Triposes at Cambridge) is that they cover the subject area very broadly in the initial years and then offer a wide range of options in which to specialise in the later years.

In terms of workload, this varies somewhat from subject to subject - you might like to watch 'A Day in the Life' to get a sense of what a typical week might be like for a sciences, arts or humanities student.

How expensive is studying and living in Cambridge?

For UK and EU students, Cambridge University charges £9,000 a year in tuition fees for all courses. It is important that you understand that UK and EU tuition fees will not need to be paid up front. Students will be able to pay their fees through government loans that are repaid after graduation, and only once a graduate earns more than £21,000 per year. For details of these loans and the further financial support available please see our financial support page.

With living costs, these can vary depending on your lifestyle - for example, depending on how much you like to spend per week on food (Cooking for yourself? Eating in the college dining hall? Going out for dinner?). A reasonable estimate for total living costs for 2016/17 is £8,500 for UK students for the three terms of the normal academic year. Overseas students should increase this figure for extra travel or accommodation costs according to their circumstances (we recommend that overseas students allow £9,570 per year). There may be some additional financial support available for maintenance (living costs) as well as tuition fees.

Do you have much spare time while studying? What is social life like at Cambridge?

King's provides a relaxed and friendly environment where it's easy to meet people. When new students arrive each year, we have a Freshers' Week designed to welcome them and ease them into College life. More generally, King's is a fairly small community with lots of events and activities throughout the year, so there are plenty of opportunities for friendships to develop. Students from all backgrounds quickly feel at home in College. For more information on what it's like to study different subjects at King's, check out our student perspectives. We also have more general FAQs here.

Medicine Masterclass at St Catharine's College

Inside St Catharine's College

St Catharine's College is holding a Masterclass on 28 June 2016 for students interested in studying Medicine at the University of Cambridge. The day will give students the chance to hear talks from the Medicine Fellows of the college, current pre-clinical and clinical students of the college and also experience a sample lecture. In addition, students will receive a tour of St Catharine's and the nearby lecture sites, and a lunch in the college hall.

The day is open to high achieving students in the lower 6th (year 12). Students should be studying at least three of the four core science subjects (Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Maths). To apply, please ask your teacher to submit a nomination form.Though it will be early in their studies, teachers should be confident that the students can meet the University's entry requirement of A*A*A in these subjects. Students should also have strong GCSE grades.

The deadine for nominations Friday 22nd April, students invited to attend the Masterclass will hear by the middle of May.

30 March and 7 April - Informal Meetings for Prospective Students

A view of Bodley's Court in King's

Are you thinking of making an application to Cambridge this October, and would it help to come and talk to us at King's? Wednesday 30 March or Thursday 7 April would be good times if you're able to come to Cambridge as we're holding meetings for prospective students on these days. It's nothing complicated - just a chance to meet Heather (one of our Admissions Officers) and ask any questions that you have at this stage. The meeting will be followed by a short tour of the college, or if you'd prefer to walk around the grounds of King's using our self-guided tour, you'll be very welcome to.

If you're interested in attending one of these informal meetings, do send us a quick email to book a place, including your name and the course you're interested in. We'll then send you further information.

Archaeology Events

Thinking about studying Archaeology at university? Here are some upcoming events you might be interested in:

April 9 - Archaeology Subject Masterclass. These Masterclasses are aimed at academically-able Year 12 students from any school/college. They provide students with an opportunity to explore topics of interest beyond what is covered within the A Level syllabus, and offer the chance to experience typical undergraduate teaching at Cambridge. Bookings are open to individuals and there is a charge of £10 for places to cover event costs.

April 13 - Archaeology Study Day for Sixth Formers at the Tower of London, organised by the Division of Archaeology, Cambridge, in partnership with the Historic Royal Palaces learning team. Especially suited to students doing A-level Archaeology or History, and/or to anyone thinking of doing Archaeology at University. Attendance is free, but booking is necessary.

This full-day event is designed to be a stimulating introduction to advanced mathematical problem-solving, and will help students to develop their mathematical thinking and confidence in tackling challenging problems. The day will include morning and afternoon interactive problem-solving workshops, as well as talks giving an accessible insight into some of the areas of maths you may encounter at university.

NB. a limited number of travel grants available, particularly for schools/colleges which are a considerable distance from Cambridge.

Cambridge Literary Festival

Book art at the CUP bookshop

Every Spring and Winter, Cambridge Literary Festival takes place in venues around the city centre, engaging with the newest fiction, cutting edge commentary and science, children's events and lots more. This year, the festival will run from 5-14 April 2016. Events require booking, and all student tickets are £6. Highlights include:

07 April - Louis de Bernieres - Author of Captain Corelli’s Mandolin and The Dust that Falls from Dreams dicusses his life and work.

09 April - Akala - Hip-Hop Shakespeare demonstrates the similarities between hip-hop and the work of the much-loved bard.

09 April - Irvine Welsh - Author of Trainspotting discusses his new novel, The Blade Artist.

Classics Open Day - 18 March 2016

The Faculty of Classics at Cambridge will host this year’s one-day conference for all sixth formers who may be thinking of reading Classics at University. This is a fun and informative event with sample lectures and briefing sessions by the Access and Outreach Teams from Oxford as well as Cambridge. Our aim is to give sixth formers an opportunity to find out what it is like to study Classics at University and a chance to ask questions they may have about the subject. The day is particularly focused around the courses on offer at Cambridge and Oxford, but is also intended to be relevant for students who may be considering studying Classics or related subjects at other Universities. Please submit a booking form to attend this event.

After the programme finishes at 15:45, King's College will be open for prospective students to attend an informal Q&A session on the application process - the college grounds will also be open for students to take a self-guided tour. We'll collect students from the Sidgwick Site and walk over to King's for 16:00. The session will end at 17:00.

MML and Linguistics Open Day - 11 March 2016

The programme for the day will include introductory talks on both MML and Linguistics, sample lectures and tours of the MML Library and other facilities such as the Phonetics Lab and the Psycholinguistics Lab. There will be stands for each Department where you will be able to meet staff and students, and there will also be information available about the Year Abroad and the University Language Centre. The Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies will also be running an Open Day at the same time and information on combining MML with Middle Eastern Studies will also be available. Please submit a booking form to attend this event.

After the programme finishes at 16:30, King's College will be open for prospective students to attend an informal Q&A session on the application process - the college grounds will also be open for students to take a self-guided tour. We'll collect students from the Sidgwick Site and walk over to King's for 16:45. The session will end at 17:30.

A is for Aerotropolis

'Aerotropolis' is a term introduced by John D. Kasarda in 2000 and refers to urban and economic developments centred around major airports. The airport becomes a kind of "airport city", a commercial hub much like a traditional metropolis, with a central business district and transport-linked suburbs.

If you're interested in studying Geography at King's, Matthew Gandy, one of our Fellows, recommends The Dictionary of Human Geography by Derek Gregory, et al., which outlines some of the key concepts and debates in human geography. The journal Nature is also a good place to find articles, such as this recent editorial which argues that environmental agencies must go much further in regulating aircraft emissions if they want to make a real difference.

Newnham College Subject Taster Days

Newnham is one of Cambridge's women's colleges, along with Murray Edwards and Lucy Cavendish (for women aged 21 and over).

Newnham College Subject Taster Days are opportunities for young women in Year 12 to visit the college for a day, to participate in a range of academic sessions introducing them to university study, and to hear all about the admissions process to the University of Cambridge. Students also have the opportunity to meet and talk to current undergraduates in their chosen subject. There is no payment for the day and lunch will be provided free of charge, however students should arrange their own transport to and from the event.

Music Taster Day

The Music Taster Day provides prospective year 12 students with a taste of what life as a Music student at the University of Cambridge would be like. Students will experience the teaching methods used by university academics and gain an insight into the facilities available at the Faculty of Music, whilst meeting students from across the UK. Days include a sample lecture, a tour of a college, a practical session and a talk including a Q and A session with current undergraduates.

The event will take place on Thursday 17 March 2016, and the day will run between 10.00am and 3.30pm.

Gravitational waves detected 100 years after Einstein’s prediction

An international team of scientists have observed ripples in the fabric of spacetime called gravitational waves, arriving at the earth from a cataclysmic event in the distant universe. This confirms a major prediction of Albert Einstein’s 1915 general theory of relativity and opens an unprecedented new window onto the cosmos.

The gravitational waves were detected on 14 September 2015 by both LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory) detectors in Louisiana and Washington State in the US. They originated from two black holes, each around 30 times the mass of the Sun and located more than 1.3 billion light years from Earth, coalescing to form a single, even more massive black hole.

The programme will include two lectures by Christ's Fellows (or other academics) designed to inspire and enthuse Year 12 students who are hoping to apply for a place to study at Cambridge or other top universities starting in the autumn of 2017. The Taster Day runs from 10.30am – 3.30pm and will also include a talk by the Admissions Tutor (with advice on preparing a Cambridge application), lunch, a tour of the College and the opportunity to meet current students. There is no cost to attend these events. Taster Days are open to UK students currently in year 12 who are attending State school and who will be applying to Universities for 2017 entry. Students must be nominated by their schools, with no more than two nominations per subject, per school.

Sutton Trust Summer School

By the river Cam in summer

Applications for the University of Cambridge’s summer schools – run in conjunction with the Sutton Trust – are now open. Offering twenty five different subject streams across four weeks of July and August, these week-long residentials give students a real insight into what life at the University is like. The residentials are specifically designed to increase the educational opportunities of gifted students from disadvantaged backgrounds - please check the eligibility criteria. All costs for the week (and travel to and from Cambridge) are covered, so there is a zero cost to participants.

More information about the application process can be found on the website. As well as covering traditional subjects, the summer schools also include a number of new topics that students may enjoy. Details of these subjects can be found via the links below:

21st Century Challenges

If you are interested in current environmental, social and economic issues, do look at the Royal Geography Society's 21st Century Challenges website, which brings together expert opinion, facts, videos and interviews and shows the importance of geographical research and approaches to key issues.

See, for example, this section on plastic pollution in the ocean - were you aware of the facts included in this page? What do you think of David de Rothschild's approach? What questions do you think are the most important when discussing plastic pollution?

What does it look like? Virtual tours!

If you are thinking about studying at Cambridge University, you may have read about the Cambridge Colleges where students live, socialise and have subject supervisions in small groups with an academic, but sometimes we know that it can be hard to imagine what they look like if you've not had a chance to visit.

At King's, we have virtual tours so that you can look around the grounds, the College library and our Chapel. In each case, you can use the 'navigate' button in the top left of the screen to move from place to place. You may also find our map and facilities section useful.

You may also want to look inside some of the other Cambridge Colleges. Thanks to Google Streetview, you can look inside: Trinity Hall, Newnham College, Queens' College, Gonville & Caius College, and St John's College. In each case once you are on Googlemaps, you need to look out for the yellow man in the bottom right corner of the screen, and drag and drop him onto the map where the College is in order to look inside.

As well as belonging one of the Colleges, all students at Cambridge also go to the relevant faculty for their course (there's a building for each subject), where you are taught in lectures and can use any labs, studios or equipment that is needed, as well as the specialist faculty library. In your faculty, you are taught with students from all of the Colleges who study the same subject as you, so it's also a good chance to meet more people who share your academic interests.

INSIGHTS Public Lectures

Attending university lectures is a brilliant way to inform, stimulate, and excite debate. These lectures aim to cover a wide range of disciplines and are a great way for you to explore contemporary issues, particularly those that affect our daily lives. Here is a taster of what is on offer:

You can also listen to recordings of previous lectures if you explore the archive section. You may find the recordings ordered by theme especially useful (click on the headings in the menu on the left of the page).

Shakespeare 400

To mark the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death, King's College, London is co-ordinating a consortium of leading cultural, creative and educational organisations, who will be putting on a range of public performances, programmes, exhibitions and creative activities.

7 Things you need to know about prime numbers (filmed lecture)

Prime numbers are fundamentally important in mathematics. In this Year 12 talk by Dr Vicky Neale (Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford), discover some of the beautiful properties of prime numbers, and learn about some of the unsolved problems that mathematicians are working on today.

Thomas Campion English Prize

Peterhouse is setting some more interesting questions for Year 12 students to discuss for its Thomas Campion English Prize.

Students are asked to write an essay on one of nine given questions, focussing on one or two literary texts that they haven't studied at school before.

Here are just a few of the questions:

“The novel, which is a work of art, exists, not by its resemblances to life, which are forced and material, as a shoe must still consist of leather, but by its immeasurable difference from life, which is designed and significant, and is both the method and the meaning of the work”. (Robert Louis Stevenson).
Do you agree?

“Nothing is funnier than unhappiness”. (Beckett). Discuss.

“There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book. Books are well written or badly written. That is all”. (Wilde).
Do you agree?

'The poet's voice is not the voice of the person who happens to be the poet.' What is it then?

The full list of questions and details of the competition are available on the Peterhouse website in the Thomas Campion English Prize pdf, and please also read the details of eligibility of the Peterhouse essay prizes. The deadline is 14 March 2016. Best of luck to those who choose to explore these questions, whether just for curiosity or to enter the competition!

Friday 19 February - Informal Meeting for Prospective Students

Are you thinking of making an application to Cambridge this October, and would it help to come and talk to us at King's? Friday 19 February would be a good time if you're able to come to Cambridge as we're holding a meeting for prospective students for an hour that day. It's nothing complicated - just a chance to meet Heather (one of our Admissions Officers) and ask any questions that you have at this stage. The meeting will be followed by a short tour of the college, or if you'd prefer to walk around the grounds of King's using our self-guided tour, you'll be very welcome to.

If you're interested in attending this informal meeting, do send us a quick email to book a place, including your name and the course you're interested in. We'll then send you further information.

Veterinary Medicine Open Day

The Department of Veterinary Medicine, perhaps surprisingly, has a long tradition of studying infectious diseases. Their work is wide-reaching, and combines leading experts in veterinary and biological sciences, public health and social sciences, ecology and wildlife health. - To find out more you can book a place on their open day (Bookings will open at 10.30am on Monday 8 February)

How did you choose your subject or course?

I wouldn't say that I really chose to study Maths at any point. It was simply my best subject and the one I most enjoyed all through school, so naturally if I was going to go to university, I would apply to do maths.
- Josh, Mathematics (more from Josh)

I was ready to commit to science after enjoying it at school but wasn't ready to commit completely to physics, making the Natural Sciences Tripos perfect for me with its breadth.
- Jonny, Natural Sciences (more from Jonny)

I have been interested in people and how they think and behave since I was a small child. I had always seen it as an innate interest, and it wasn’t until I was in sixth form that I began to consider studying social sciences at university. I had never studied Psychology or any similar discipline as an academic subject before, but I realised that a lot of what I was reading, the things I chose to watch on television, and lectures, museums and events I went to had this common theme.
- Lucy, Psychological and Behavioural Sciences (more from Lucy)

Having decided that I wanted to take further the skills I enjoyed learning in the sciences and maths at school,I decided that Engineering was for me as it provides a more practical and real-world approach to learning than perhaps a ‘pure’ science would. [....] What attracted me to the Cambridge Engineering course was the relatively unique course structure, allowing me to study a wide range of engineering subjects in the first two years before choosing to specialise in the final two years.
- Mark, Engineering (more from Mark)

I didn’t always want to do medicine, like many people claim. [...] But I somehow started to look into [brain surgery] in Year 11. At first, I had no idea what was involved - I thought that I could take a course in neuroscience at university and then (with some training) be allowed to be a brain surgeon! But, the more I dug into the details, the more I realised that actually, things aren’t that simple. You need a medical degree, and have years of specialist training in hospitals afterwards before you can cut up someone’s skull and probe it with various instruments. And so that’s what inspired me to study medicine. Interestingly, I no longer want to be a brain surgeon as I’ve become interested in other areas of medicine, but brain surgery is important because it is what got me into medicine to begin with.
- Shedeh, Medicine (more from Shedeh)

The idea of being able to concentrate on my studies for three years like any other undergraduate immediately appealed. Firstly I would get to further my scientific curiosity before I became a “real” medic, which I hoped would teach me to think critically about every clinical procedure I would have to do, by evaluating its relevance and importance to the scientific community. Secondly, it could also lead to a much swifter entry into research, an alternative field I had been entertaining, if I decided that this was for me.
- Anne, Medicine (more from Anne)

How did you choose your course?

In a panel session with undergraduates from Leeds and Sheffield universities, one of you asked about how they chose their course. This is a very good question to ask when you meet current students! Here are some responses from Cambridge undergraduates who enjoyed History at school....though you'll notice that not all of them chose the course called History!

At school, I always enjoyed and did well at essay subjects like History and English. I was just never that excited about maths or science lessons, and I never imagined studying those subjects for longer than I had to.[...] I went to lots of Open Days at various universities around the UK when I was in Year 12. It was the talks about studying History that I found really exciting and which made me want to learn more.[...] I thought that Cambridge was a beautiful place and also small enough that I wouldn’t get lost! When I came for a Cambridge Open Day, I went to a talk about studying History here. Several lecturers spoke to us about the course and the material we could study here, and I was surprised at the different kinds of things I could choose to study. Some areas didn’t interest me at all at first, but some lecturers were so enthusiastic about their specialist areas that I couldn’t help but be interested. Apart from anything else, the talk was really useful in terms of practical information, helping me to understand how the course would be structured, what kind of options were available, and even how to go about studying History at university level. I definitely recommend going to these sorts of talks on Open Days, because even simple information like how many lectures you’d expect to be given, and how you’ll be assessed, can help you decide whether it’s the right subject or university for you.
- Fiona, History (more from Fiona)

I discovered Anglo-Saxon, Norse & Celtic (ASNC) while flicking through the Cambridge prospectus. It’s one of the University’s lesser-known degrees, so I hadn’t seen it online before. The wonderful images of artefacts and the obscure topics in the prospectus entry had me instantly hooked, and I immediately wanted to find out more about the course. I had originally intended to study History at Cambridge, and to specialise in this period, but as soon as I saw ASNC I knew straight away that it was for me! After some further research, it was the small size of the faculty and the total freedom that the course offers from the first year that drew me to it.
- Tom, Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic (more from Tom)

I chose to study History because it is a subject which I really enjoyed. I definitely think studying something at university that you enjoy is the best idea; you will be spending a lot of time on it!
- Marie, History (more from Marie)

The breadth of my degree is what first drew me to it; the opportunity to continue to explore history and literature and languages all together. Learning ancient languages has always felt a little bit magical for me, like you’re accessing some arcane wisdom, and breaking a code at the same time. Being able to study a culture in its entirety, to track its changes, to read its language, to explore its philosophy, just opens up a whole world of exploration of big ideas about human history and identity, whilst also allowing you to really get to grips with the nitty-gritty textual analysis and specific ideas.
- Qasim, Classics (more from Qasim)

In lower sixth I realised that the one thing that united my A level subjects was the theme of 'religion' and I realised that a Theology degree at Cambridge would enable me to pursue my interest in literature and History while focusing on a core interest of mine, namely religion.
- Eliot, Theology, Religion, and Philosophy of Religion (more from Eliot)

At college I took A-levels in History, English Literature and French. I originally thought that I wanted to study English at university, but as I went through my AS year I realised that History was really where my interest lay, and as I researched university courses I saw how appealing the breadth of material to study as part of a History degree was. Not only did I like the course at Cambridge, but I also knew that I would be being taught by the leading historians in the field.
- Sarah, History (more from Sarah)

Oxford and Cambridge Classics Conference for Sixth Formers

On 18 March 2016, together with colleagues at Oxford, the Cambridge Classics Faculty will be holding the joint Oxford and Cambridge Classics Conference for Sixth Formers.

This year, this will take place at Cambridge. The day provides an opportunity to hear a range of university-style Classics lectures, to find out more about the Classics courses at the two Universities, student life, and the admissions process, and to ask any questions you have.

Reith Lectures on Black Holes (Stephen Hawking)

Each year the BBC invites leading speakers in different fields to deliver the Reith lectures, which are broadcast on Radio 4. The subject of this year's Reith Lectures is Black Holes and the speaker is Stephen Hawking. If you have not already caught them, you might enjoy the following Radio 4 broadcasts:

NB. This is an example of a resource that can be accessed from lots of different places. We tag such posts with 'all locations'. If you live some way from Cambridge, clicking on the all locations page can be useful so that you filter out events in Cambridge and events in specific areas of the UK.

Computer Science at Cambridge Science Festival

The programme has just been published for this year's Cambridge Science Festival, which will run from Monday 7 March to Sunday 20 March. Events which may be of interest to prospective Computer Science students include both talks and activities, and the opportunity to visit some of the University's facilties. Here are some examples:

Hull University public lecture: The death and reinvention of Scotland 1750 - 1850

On 29 January, Professor Sir Tom Devine, OBE, one of Scotland's most acclaimed historians, is giving a public lecture at the University of Hull on The death and reinvention of Scotland 1750 - 1850.

The lecture starts at 6pm and will last an hour. It will take place at Wilberforce Institute for the study of Slavery and Emancipation, 27 High St, City of Kingston upon Hull, Hull, North Humberside HU1 1NE, United Kingdom (map). For further details, please scroll down this page.

Physics at Cambridge Science Festival

The programme has just been published for this year's Cambridge Science Festival, which will run from Monday 7 March to Sunday 20 March. Events which may be of interest to prospective Chemistry students include both talks and activities, and the opportunity to visit some of the University's facilties.

Chemistry at Cambridge Science Festival

The programme has just been published for this year's Cambridge Science Festival, which will run from Monday 7 March to Sunday 20 March. Events which may be of interest to prospective Chemistry students include both talks and activities, and the opportunity to visit some of the University's facilties. Here are some examples:

Biology and Medicine at the Cambridge Science Festival

The programme has just been published for this year's Cambridge Science Festival, which will run from Monday 7 March to Sunday 20 March. Events which may be of interest to prospective students for Biology and Medicine include both talks and activities, and the opportunity to visit some of the University's facilties. Here are some examples:

Durham: Find out about research in Antarctica

Keep an eye out for interesting local exhibitions and events!

There are a number of exhibitions and events at Palace Green Library, Durham University on the Polar Regions, focusing particularly on the discovery, exploration and ongoing work taking place in Antarctica.

As well as visiting the exhibitions, do take the opportunity to talk to scientists from Durham University's Department of Geography about research in Antarctica and ask any questions that you have about what current research is happening and why this is important for our understanding of climate change - they will be available every Saturday at the 'Ask a Scientist' events (next event: Saturday 23 January 12 noon until 3pm).

HE+ resources

There are resouces for developing a range of academic interests on the HE+ website for students who are thinking of persuing subjects at research-intensive universities after sixth form. Do explore the HE+ subjects page to access resources on topics such as:

Vellacott Essay Prize (Year 12)

Peterhouse is setting some interesting questions for Year 12 students to discuss (with reference to any academic discipline or area of interest) for its annual Vellacott Essay Prize.

Students are asked to choose a topic that you have not previously studied at school from the 41 questions, which include a wide range of historical topics, also touching on a number of other subject areas, such as Classics, Theology, Art, Literature, Music, Politics, Architecture and Sociology. Here are some examples of the questions set:

Should Classical Sparta be described as a totalitarian state?

Was there a 'Third-Century Crisis' in the Roman Empire?

When did the Middle Ages begin and end?

What were the public functions of art in the Italian Renaissance?

Why was Machiavelli's book The Prince so controversial?

How and to what effect did the political ideology and practice of Islam change after 1750?

What music was popular in nineteenth-century Europe?

What did the revolutions of 1848 achieve?

To what extent did the First World War signal the rise of a new politcs accross the MIddle East?

Discuss the historical significance of one of the following places or buildings: Route 66; The IBM Watson Research Center; the MCG; Reading gaol; The "walkie-talkie".

Year 12 Summer Schools

Applications are open for the Year 12 Sutton Trust Summer Schools in Cambridge! These are very popular subject-specific residentials in July and August for eligible students in Year 12 (or equivalent) at state-maintained schools in the UK. The programme includes lectures, seminars, discussion groups, practical work and social activities, as well as the opportunity to meet current staff and students and to live in a Cambridge College. The residentials are free of charge.

The Sutton Trust Summer Schools provide a very useful insight into what it is like to study at Cambridge so do apply for a place if you are curious to find out about studying at Cambridge and don't have much information about this already. Equally, please be aware that we receive far more applications than we have places available. It is important to read:

Oxford and Cambridge Year 12 Student Conferences around the UK

Student conferences are a good opportunity to find out more from subject specialists, students and admissions staff

Bookings are open for the 2016 Oxford and Cambridge Student Conferences, which will take place in Swansea, Birmingham, Merseyside, Newcastle, Lisburn, Edinburgh and Surrey during March.

The conference covers courses available at Oxford and Cambridge (sessions led by subject specialists), Applying to Oxford and Cambridge (including student life) talks, and plenty of opportunities to chat with current students and admissions staff at both universities and find out what studying at Oxford and Cambridge is really like. You will need a teacher to book a ticket for you if you would like to attend - do read the information on the Oxford and Cambridge Student Conference website and ask a teacher to book your place (see the links to the different events on the right-hand side of the webpage linked above).

Competition: Communicating the Ancient World through film

The Faculty of Classics at Cambridge is well known for putting the Ancient World on screen. With Mary Beard, Andrew Wallace-Hadrill, and others on the staff, Cambridge’s Classics academics are some of the most familiar faces on TV documentaries.

This new competition invites you to take part in this mission of communicating the Ancient World through film (YouTube, not BBC1 just yet!). We are looking for creative and interesting films which explore a classical object or topic in less than 4 minutes. There will be a prize fund of £500 for the best entries and the winning videos will be put on our unique website – The Greeks, The Romans & Us – which features a range of videos of Cambridge’s well-known and up-and-coming Classicists.

Subject Masterclasses

Students outside the Faculty of Classics

Subject Masterclasses provide academically-able Year 12 students with the opportunity to explore subjects they are interested in studying at university and may not have previously experienced. Each event includes two lectures, an introduction to the admissions process, and the chance to hear about student life from current undergraduates.

A range of subjects are offered each year, currently bookings are open for February 2016 Masterclasses in:

Archaeology: Saturday 06 February 2016

Genetics and Biochemistry : Saturday 06 February 2016

Physics: Saturday 06 February 2016

Theology and Philosophy: Saturday 06 February 2016

Architecture: Saturday 27 February 2016

Classics: Saturday 27 February 2016

English: Saturday 27 February 2016

Please be aware there are only a limited number of spaces available so we advise students to book their places quickly. Masterclasses are continually added throughout the year so please register your interest for future events on the Masterclass website.

Cambridge interviews

Cambridge interviews are very similar to the supervisions that you have every week as a student here (see how you are taught).

If you apply to Cambridge, you send your UCAS application by the 15 October deadline (Cambridge and Oxford have an earlier deadline than for most UK universities), and most (though not all) applicants are invited for interviews, which take place in early December.

We don't suggest that you worry too much about the details of the application process when you're in Year 10, Year 11 or at this stage of Year 12, but it is useful to get a sense of what interviews are about (they are academic interviews). The important point to understand when looking at interviews, is that if you would like to study at Cambridge in the future, you may already be thinking about whether you can achieve the grades we require (see our entrance requirements), but it is equally important to enjoy your studies and explore and develop your academic interests.

When you come for interview, we will be looking for intellectual ability, aptitude for the subject, curiosity and commitment. So the interviewers (specialists in the subejct you have applied for) ask a range of questions relating to the work or reading you have done, both at school and outside it. We we will encourage you to talk about your academic interests and ideas. We encourage you to watch this film about Cambridge interviews.

Interested in languages? literature? politics? history?

If you are studying a language and are also interested in the world (i.e. you enjoy subjects such as politics, history, or literature, for example), then one exciting course that is worth looking at is Asian and Middle Eastern Studies. It's a very flexible course which can be tailored to your interests, so you can study areas from Japan in the East to Morocco in the West, and everything from classical times to the present day.

Studying an asian or middle eastern culture through its language enables you to develop a set of practical skills and knowledge that can be used later in many different ways (graduates go onto some very interesting careers indeed after this course!), and intellectually, you will engage with different ways of understanding our shared world.

There are no specific subject requirements for Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, though we will obviously be very interested in your aptitude for language learning. Most applicants study a foreign language at school. Many applicants have studied social sciences such as Economics or History, but it is also possible to apply and do well with a background in maths and sciences.

There's a very good opportunity to explore this course further if you can get to Cambridge on Saturday 21 November - do book a place on the Asian and Middle Eastern Studies Masterclass, which will include two taster lectures, an opportunity to hear about what studying at Cambridge is like from current students, a introduction to the Cambridge admisisons process, and chance to ask questions.

York - Exploring Light

Credit: Faith Goble

How is light used in scientific research today?

On Saturday 31 October, the University of York, The Institute of Physics, York Hackspace, Illuminating York and York Explore are presenting a day of hands-on, fun activities and talks from artists and physicists focusing on light.

Mary Renault essay competition (Years 12 & 13)

St Hugh's College, Oxford is running an essay competition in memory of author Mary Renault (best known for her novels set in ancient Greece) for sixth form students who are not studying Greek or Latin to A level or equivalent.

Essays can be from any subject area and should be on a topic relating to the reception of classical antiquity. This includes Greek and Roman literature, history, political thought, philosophy, and material remains in any period from the Middle Ages to the present.

“We are here to tell you about science and its endless connections to our lives. Each month we choose a single topic. And each Thursday we publish a new chapter on that topic online. Each issue combines the sciences, culture and philosophy into a single story told by the world’s leading thinkers and writers. We follow the story wherever it leads us. Read our essays, investigative reports, and blogs. Fiction, too. Take in our games, videos, and graphic stories. Stop in for a minute, or an hour. Nautilus lets science spill over its usual borders. We are science, connected.”

MedLife - Medicine at Cambridge

On 12 December 2015, Cambridge University School of Clinical Medicine will be holding an event called ‘MedLife’ for lower sixth (Year 12) students interested in applying for Medicine at Cambridge.

The day will provide participants with a taster of life as a medical student, through lectures and practical sessions and will also give them the opportunity to ask students and course organisers any questions they have. The event will be concluded by an admissions talk.

CUSU Shadowing Scheme

The CUSU Shadowing Scheme brings UK students from schools without a tradition of top university entry to Cambridge for three days in January or February. Prospective students come to Cambridge on the Thursday afternoon and stay until Saturday lunchtime. In that time you will spend time with a current undergraduate, studying a subject that you are interested in, who you 'shadow'.

The idea is to give people with little or no experience of university a taste of student life at Cambridge, in real time, with real people. The Shadowing Scheme is specifically for students with little or no history of university in their family, students who have great reservations about applying to Cambridge or students whose school rarely sends students to University. The whole trip is funded by Cambridge University Student Union, the University, and the Colleges – all accommodation and food is free, and travel costs to and from Cambridge may be reimbursed on a needs basis. The Scheme is really popular; we receive more applications than places. As such, we ask that standard-age applicants are on track to achieve As and A*s in your A-Levels (or equivalent). If you already know that you want to apply to Cambridge or Oxford, or you have friends or relatives who have studied at Cambridge or Oxford, please come on an Open Day or other Cambridge scheme for which you are eligible instead.

Social Science Bites

In this series of illuminating podcasts, you can hear leading social scientists present their perspectives on how our social world is created, and how social science can help us understand people and how they behave. Each podcast includes a downloadable written transcript of the conversation.

Subject Masterclasses - Year 12 Students

Subject Masterclasses provide academically-able Year 12 students with the opportunity to explore subjects they are interested in studying at university and may not have previously experienced. Each event includes two lectures, an introduction to the admissions process, and the chance to hear about student life from current undergraduates.

The Science of Life 2016

The Science of Life is a competition inviting 16-19 year olds to design and complete their own physiology research project, with the help of an academic mentor, and present their findings to scientists at The Physiological Society. With the Olympics in 2016, they're particularly interested in projects on improving sports performance, although projects on any physiological topic are welcome.

Prizes
• Gold prize will be a Train Like a Champion Day at an English Institute of Sport centre, during which the winners will find out what makes a champion athlete and meet the people who support athletes, including physiologists, doctors and psychologists.
• Silver and Bronze prizes include a free visit to the Royal Veterinary College and £200 Amazon gift vouchers for the students.
• The winning schools will also receive some great prizes.

Essay Writing - Where To Begin?

Getting those first words on the page when you’ve got an essay to write can seem daunting. There are a few useful tools and guides online that can help you get started and even develop your essay writing skills.

Essay Map is a very straightforward tool for mapping out your key ideas before you begin writing and helps you to create a structured plan from introduction to conclusion.

And if you find graphic plans useful when it comes to mapping out essays, there are lots of different designs online that you can use to organise your ideas.

Word of the Day

There are a few online dictionaries that post a 'word of the day' to help broaden your vocabulary with less common words as well as suggesting some more familiar words whose meanings you might not be so sure on. You can even sign-up to have these emailed to you daily. Dictionary.com and Merriam-Webster are just two of the websites that offer these free subscriptions.

Space Biology

If you are interested in Biology and Medicine, take a moment to think about Space Biology. It may well be something that you've not thought about before, but do you think that Space can and should be studied from a biological persepctive? How and why? What sorts of things might you study if you were looking at Space in this way?

Big Picture is a free Wellcome Trust magazine for sixth form students interested in Biology and Medicine - do have a look at this issue on Space Biology:

What does an Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic dissertation look like?

Lucinda, an Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic student at Christ’s College, Cambridge, shares her thoughts on her undergraduate dissertation which asks: To what extent did the Anglo-Saxon Church condemn contemporary medical practices, and for what reasons?

She writes that “Although very niche, the Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic degree (or Tripos as it’s known in Cambridge) allows very flexible study in the range of papers it offers. Students can choose to focus on purely literature and language or on history, or as is most popular, they can mix the two together. Students have two opportunities to write a dissertation: it is optional in Second Year (Part I of the Tripos), and compulsory in Third (Part II). The beauty of the dissertation is that it allows you to either expand on an area you've already studied or to tackle something new which isn't covered in lectures or supervisions. For my Part II dissertation I chose the route of challenging myself with something I knew nothing about: Anglo-Saxon medicine.”

Online Lectures and Seminars

Even if you’re too far away to attend an event, or don’t have the free time to sign up for events going on nearby, there are some fantastic resources online to let you catch up with things you might have missed!

So if you didn't catch the “The Art of Science and Curation” series which took place at the Faculty of Classics in Cambridge last year, recordings of its seminars are still available online. You can listen to perspectives on objects in museums from Archaeologists, Historians, Curators, Art Historians – even Librarians.

Considering Shostakovich: String Quartet No. 8

In many of the courses taught at Cambridge, the Faculty lectures you attend are designed to open up and expand your critical perspective on the topics you are studying, as well as furthering your factual knowledge. You can then explore ideas and specific examples further in your reading and thinking, and through writing your weekly essays, then discussing them with your supervisors (see how you are taught).

As an example, three Cambridge lecturers in Music have written about one of the most famous twentieth-century chamber works from three very different angles.

NRICH Mathematics

Whether you are starting A Levels, Highers, the International Baccalaureate, Pre-U or another higher maths qualification, it might take a while to find your feet. NRICH Mathematics can help! Do look at the finding your feet resources and also explore the website to get a sense of what is there.

Year 12 Classics events in September

Jack says: It was the breadth of the Classics course at Cambridge that appealed to me, as it offered an opportunity to concentrate on areas of particular interest while still covering a huge range of academic disciplines and topics. Amber writes: I was always interested in literature and languages growing up. [...] I considered applying for English or Modern Languages at university, but eventually settled on Classics, and I’m very glad I did – I’ve really enjoyed the course. Read more about Jack and Amber's experiences of studying Classics.

Why not book a place on one of the Classics events in September to find out more?

Year 12 Pathways to Law

Do you think that you'd like to study Law at university? If you're just starting Year 12, you're from any of the areas below, and you're either eligible for free school meals or don't have any family members who have been to university, do read the information about the Pathways to Law programme in partnership with your local university. The application deadline is 28 September.

Partner universities and areas you can apply from:

University of Bristol: Addresses within an hour’s drive of Bristol.

University of Essex: Schools and colleges with low rates of progression to university in the county of Essex and into the neighbouring town of Ipswich.

University of Exeter: Schools and colleges in Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset (postcodes EX, TQ, PL, TR, TA, DT) only

University of Leeds: Schools and colleges in Yorkshire.

London programme (UCL and LSE): Eligible students who live in, or attend a state school in, one of the 32 London boroughs.

University of Manchester: Greater Manchester and Cheshire.

Nottingham programme (Nottingham and Nottingham Trent): Schools with low rates of progression to university who are within 1 hour's travelling distance from the city of Nottingham.

University of Oxford: Eligible students who live in Oxfordshire, Swindon, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire only.

University of Southampton: Schools with low rates of progression to university in Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and selected areas of Dorset and Surrey.

Manchester & London: opportunity to sign up for Year 12 Music+

Are you about to start an A level / IB Higher Level / equivalent Music course at a state school or college in or near Manchester or London? Do you think that you might want to study Music at university level later on?

There will be a series of Year 12 twilight extension classes in Music taught by experienced teachers and Cambridge academics during the autumn spring terms, followed by a residential visit to Cambridge in mid-March 2016.

King's students write about a typical day

Do you want to know what it's like to be a student at King's? King's College Student Union (KCSU) is keen to help you out - they are collecting short accounts written by current students of what it is like to study here. Do look at A Day In The Life Of.... and click on the subject you're most interested in, or start with Scott's general description of life as a fresher.

Friday 4 Sept - Informal meeting for prospective students

Are you thinking of making an application to Cambridge this October, and would it help to come and talk to us at King's? Friday 4 September would be a good time if you're able to come to Cambridge as we're holding a meeting for prospective students for an hour that day. It's nothing complicated - just a chance to meet Kristy (one of our Admissions Officers) and ask any questions that you have at this stage. If you want to also walk around the grounds of King's using our self-guided tour, you'll be very welcome to.

If you're interested in attending this informal meeting, do send us a quick email to book a place, including your name and the course you're interested in. We'll then send you further information.

What next? A Year in Industry, perhaps?

The Year in Industry (YINI) team helps post-A Level / Higher / Advanced Higher and undergraduate students to find work placements in the UK in all areas of engineering, science, IT, e-commerce, business, marketing, finance, logistics and more.

As there are a couple of weeks of the summer holiday left, you might want to check out our page on developing your academic interests. We hope you'll take some well-earned rest, but now is a great opportunity to spend some time thinking around and outside of your subject. Browsing some of the other posts on this page might give you some ideas.

Inside the Ethics Committee

To study Medicine at Cambridge, you not only need to be a keen scientist, with a sound scientific understanding, but also have the potential to become a good doctor. The Clinical School believes that one of the key qualities of a Medical student is 'a sound appreciation of ethical, legal and community issues.' BBC Radio 4's Inside the Ethics Committee gives you an insight into some of these issues. In each programme, the presenter Joan Bakewell is joined by a panel of experts to wrestle with the ethics arising from a real-life medical case. In recent weeks, they've asked:

should a surgeon agree to a young woman's request to amputate her leg? (Thursday 16 July)

how far should a medical team go to prevent a young woman from ending her life? (Thursday 23 July)

is it ever ethical to withhold food and water in a child who is not dying? (Thursday 30 July)

should a medical team accept a teenager's choice to refuse chemo? (Thursday 6 August)

We know that sometimes it can feel a bit difficult to know exactly what is needed and how to prepare as an applicant for a course that you start new at university. Depending on your school qualifications, you may also be concerned about differences in maths and physics syllabuses. We've provided some detailed advice at the link below - we hope that you will find it useful:

Do you live too far away to visit Cambridge?

Different people need different facilities. This is one of the treadmills in the King's Vaults gym.

It is not unusual to make a successful application without ever having set foot in Cambridge. Don't worry if it is not practical for you to visit as there is no requirement to do so.

Since we welcome applicants who live a long way from Cambridge, we do our best to ensure that all the infomation that you need to make a strong application is on our website (see the relevant subject page and how to apply in particular), as well as virtual tours and the life and facilities sections so that you can get a sense of King's as a place:

The grounds of King's - 360 degree tour
(click on 'Navigate' in the top left corner to explore other parts)

Would you like to visit Cambridge during the summer?

Prospective students are always welcome to visit

Remember that you are welcome to visit any time, even if there's not an official open day on.

If you would like to look around a college, it is best to introduce yourself at the porters' lodge (the reception). Porters are normally happy for prospective students to walk around the public areas and will give you any maps / information available. There's also a map of Cambridge, which shows where the colleges are. You'll see that the middle of Cambridge is quite small, so you will be able to walk between most colleges easily.

If you would like to visit King's, do introduce yourself at the porters' lodge when you arrive. The college will be open to prospective students and we have a self-guided tour that you can use.

You may find the Following in the Footsteps audio tour useful for visiting other parts of the University. Cambridge University is made up of colleges, faculties (where you go for lectures), libraries (over 100 of them!) and offices dotted around the city, and following this tour will give you a good sense of how it all works.

FutureLearn

Basic Science: understanding numbers from the Open University is a four week course beginning on 6 July. The course explains how you can use numbers to describe the natural world and make sense of everything from atoms to oceans.

If you're interested in studying Architecture, do keep an eye on the Summer Show page for further detail of what is happening on 7 - 9 July. During the exhibition there will be an afternoon of free public lectures from contemporary practitioners and university academics, as well as a day for prospective students. The location is G1 F Block, Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane, London E1 6QL.

Be yourself and follow your interests
None of the Cambridge courses have books that you haveto read before you apply, so if you've already found some material that you're finding interesting and engaging, and is developing your academic interests, don't stop!

Make a few brief notes
Making a list of the points that interest you, or any thoughts on the arguments you encounter, is a good thing to do as you read if you can (even if you keep them very brief). This will help you to remember the most important points, and also to notice where your interests lie.

Explain to somebody else
Are you taking it in? A good way to ensure that you've understood something is to try to explain it to somebody else. Do you have any friends or relatives who might be interested in what you're reading? If you can explain the main points in an idea to somebody who does not know about the subject, that is normally a good sign that you've got it clear in your own head!

Try to avoid:

Being daunted
The lists we provide are meant to be helpful for those looking for suggestions. We're not trying to overwhelm you. Just like the kinds of suggestions you get from supervisors and lecturers when you're studying at Cambridge, some of the subject lists are quite long so that you can pick and choose according to your interests. Don't be put off by this!

The tick-box approach
The important point about your reading is not which books you've read but what you get out of them. So our advice is: don't rush to read as many books as possible in order to tick them off a reading list. It is much more important that you take time to enjoy the material and think about it. Remember that the best things to mention on the personal statement or your UCAS application form are the things that genuinely interest you.

Isaac Physics Partnership - resources and events

The Isaac Physics Partnership provides resources to offer support and activities in physics problem-solving to students (and teachers) working from GCSE (Year 11), through sixth form (Years 12 & 13), and to university.

The partnership also runs free UK events (funded by the Department for Education) for AS and A2 Physics and Maths education. Here is a list of forthcoming events - do click on the links below for details and booking.

Introduction to Archives

Why not access and use primary sources to explore and develop your academic interests this Summer?

King's College Archive Centre has developed an Introduction to Archives, using the papers of King's student and First World War poet Rupert Brooke as a case study.

The website is divided into two parts:

Introduction to archives: What archives are, the key principles of archival research and how to access primary sources (sections 1-6).

Rupert Brooke case study: How these ideas apply to the papers of Rupert Brooke, through interpretation activities focussing on different aspects of his life and a few of his most famous poems (sections 7-10).

Once you've worked through the online resources, you'll be ready to visit an archive near you to do some research of your own.

Economics: Maths is important!

To thrive on the Cambridge Economics course, you need to enjoy (and be good at!) Mathematics at school and have an interest in applying mathematical and statistical tools to economic problems. The first year at Cambridge includes a compulsory course in Quantative Mathods that covers Maths and Statistics (you can read the paper description if you'd like to).

In A level terms, you are presumed to have mastered the material in modules C1 - C4 by the end of your school maths course, and you will find it easier to tackle the Quantitative Methods course if you have taken module S1. If you don't know what we're talking about, the topics are set out at the top of page 2 in the paper description, or you could always have a look at an A level syllabus specification to compare the content with the maths you've been doing.

If you have the opportunity to take Further Mathematics, that would be very helpful once you start the course, especially the Pure and Statistical options (rather than Mechanics or Decisions Maths).

Sample questions resource

We know that it can be tricky (especially if you're not studying for A levels) to work out if your mathematical skills will give you a good preparation for Economics at Cambridge. The Director of Studies at King's has prepared some sample mathematical and analytical questions for you to look at. If you work through these questions, we hope that this will give you a good sense of the kind of mathematical and analytical skills that we will be looking for when we consider you for a place.

Mathematics for Biologists and Chemists

Undergraduate Biologists and Chemists will find they need some mathematics in order to access and make the most of their science. Natural Scientists at Cambridge can choose between three first year Mathematics courses: Mathematics (usually taken by those specialising in Physical Sciences), Mathematical Biology (usually taken by those specialising in Biological Sciences), and Elementary Mathematics for Biologists (designed for Biological Scientists who did not take A Level Mathematics or equivalent).

Our Natural Scientists explain that 'knowledge of mathematics is essential for all scientists; it is the language with which we formulate theories and natural laws and express our ideas.' But what can you do to gain fluency in mathematics? They advise you to 'practise thinking mathematically in non-routine contexts.'

London Anthropology Day (2 July)

Booking is open for the London Anthropology Day on Thursday 2 July. If you're in Year 12 or Year 13 and would like to participate in biological and social anthropology workshops with lecturers from universities across the UK, as well as explore the British Museum's ethnographic galleries and meet undergraduate students, do read the information and programme, and consider booking a place (the event is free of charge).

Luminarium - a website for students with a curiosity for English Literature

If you're interested in studying English at Cambridge, we recommend that you try to read material from a number of different periods if you can, as the course will introduce you to the full range of literature from the Middle Ages to the present day.

Language-learning: Essay Competition

Are you interested in how language works? If so, you might like to consider working on an entry for Trinity College's Essay Competition, which invites students in Year 12* to think about the following topic:

‘A child exposed to two languages from birth and an adult moving into a country where another language is dominant will both be faced with the challenge and opportunity of becoming bilingual. Discuss the similarities and differences in the processes and outcomes of language learning for these two types of learner.’

You don't have to be studying any particular subjects to enter, but it's a good chance to see if you enjoy working on topics in the broad area of Linguistics. Full details of the competition and how to enter are available on the Trinity College website, and the deadline for entries is 1 August 2015.

*Year 12 is the academic year before students sit A level exams, the International Baccalaureate or equivalent qualifications.

Spotlight on HSPS: Archaeology

Human, Social, and Political Sciences (HSPS) at Cambridge offers a unique range of related disciplines, which can be studied in many combinations, or with a concentration on a single discipline: you can work on Politics and International Relations, Social Anthropology, Biological Anthropology, Archaeology and / or Sociology. Many (or all) of these subjects will be new to you, so how do you know what's involved?

As the course website explains, Archaeology is the study of the human past. Archaeologists investigate the origins of our species, document the diversity of ancient cultures, and explore the emergence of the first cities and empires. Archaeologists study material remains (from stone tools to monuments) and settlements (from villages to cities) to answer questions including: How did tool use affect evolution of the modern human brain? What can the earliest art tell us about interaction and cognition of early humans? How did daily life change with domestication of plants and animals? What are the sources of social inequality? When - and why - did leadership emerge? How did early empires encompass such vast territories, and why were their rulers so powerful?

Specialist courses in Ayssyriology (the study of Mesopotamia) and Egpytology are also available as part of the HSPS degree.

Biological Natural Sciences Subject Day: Thursday 16 July

Cambridge Institute for Medical Research and King's College are jointly hosting a Biological Natural Sciences Subject Day on Thursday 16 July. Come and meet the CIMR's researchers and students and see the inner workings of their specialist research facilities, including world-class super-resolution microscopy. Join us at King's for lunch and for admissions and research talks by our Directors of Studies in Biological Natural Sciences. This event is open to Year 12 (or Year 13) students at UK schools who are currently researching applications for Biological Natural Sciences at university. Please note that this is not a suitable event for students who wish to apply for and study Medicine at university. Please see the provisional programme and apply online by Friday 19 June.

June Events in Cambridge (early booking recommended!)

As well as the Cambridge Open Days across all subjects and colleges on Thurs 2 July and Fri 3 July, a number of Year 12(*) subject events in June are open for booking at the moment.

Although we know that most of you are really busy with exam work at the moment, do be aware that some of these events allocate places on a first come, first served basis, so do try to get your booking in as soon as possible if you are interested.

Summer Medicine Residential at King's: 23 - 24 June 2015

King's skeleton

King's College Student Union invites prospective Medics at UK state schools and colleges to apply for our Summer Medicine Residential. If you're currently researching an application for Medicine at university, and would like to have a taste of what studying at Cambridge is like, this event could be for you! The participants will attend supervisions in Biochemistry, Physiology, and Anatomy, participate in admissions workshops, and visit the Gurdon Institute. The residential begins at 12 midday on Tuesday 23 June, ends at 3pm on Wednesday 24 June, and includes one night's accommodation and all meals free of charge. We ask students to arrange their travel to Cambridge and cover their own transport costs. Priority will be given to those students travelling from further afield.

Coding Summer School for Girls

Are you female, aged 16-19, and interested in getting started with computer programming? If so, do apply for a place on the Cambridge Coding Academy Summer School for Girls, which will run from 10-14 August inclusive. The booking deadline is fast approaching so do apply today.

The summer school is supported by generous industry sponsorship, though do be aware that there remains a cost of £99. Subsidised accommodation is available in Queens' College and St John's College.

The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC) is housed in the same building and formed in part by the Supreme Court Justices. It is the highest court of appeal for many current and former Commonwealth countries, as well as the United Kingdom’s overseas territories, crown dependencies, and military sovereign base areas:

The Supreme Court and the JCPC have been live streaming their hearings for some time. Today, they have launched an on-demand archive of past hearings, which is expected to hold as many as 150 courtroom hearings and 900 hours of recordings at any one time.

Booking opens for Cambridge Open Days

Tour of King's with a current student

Booking is now open for the Cambridge Open Days on Thursday 2 and Friday 3 July 2015. If you are are thinking of applying for undergraduate study at Cambridge in the coming admissions round (either for entry in October 2016 or deferred entry in October 2017) you and up to two supporters are invited to visit the University of Cambridge and its colleges.

King's will be holding an open house for all Cambridge Open Day visitors from 9am to 5.30pm each day. Please do call in at your convenience to meet and chat to the admissions team and our current students and take a tour of the college. We will also be offering subject meetings (the programme will be published on our website nearer the time). We look forward to seeing you!

STEP Online Resources

A pilot correspondence course started in January 2015 for Year 12 students who plan to take STEP Mathematics papers in Year 13. It is intended for students who would not otherwise receive much help with STEP.

The assignments (and their 'postmortems') are being published online as the course progresses. Each assignment starts with some warm-up exercises. Then there is some preparatory work leading to a STEP question. Finally, there is an unrelated warm-down exercise.

Spotlight on HSPS: Biological and Social Anthropology

Human, Social, and Political Sciences (HSPS) at Cambridge offers a unique range of related disciplines, which can be studied in many combinations, or with a concentration on a single discipline: you can work on Politics and International Relations, Social Anthropology, Biological Anthropology, Archaeology and / or Sociology. Many (or all) of these subjects will be new to you, so how do you know what's involved?

Biological Anthropology is a field which explores human biology and evolution. With an emphasis on the interaction between biology and culture, it sits firmly between the social and biological sciences. Biological anthropologists study human origins and diversity in present and past populations in the context of their culture, behaviour, life-style, morphological and molecular variation. What aspects of our biology and behaviour are uniquely human and what do we share with other species? Why is there so little genetic variation among humans across the world? Are we still evolving and why has natural selection not eradicated disease? Can a statistical test save lives?

Social Anthropology addresses the really big question – what does it mean to be human? – by taking as its subject matter the full range of human social and cultural diversity: the amazingly varied ways that people live, think and relate to each other in every part of the world. What does this diversity tell us about the fundamental bases and possibilities of human social and political life? Can it help us to comprehend the sheer unpredictability of how contemporary global changes manifest themselves in people's lives across the world?

There is a new series of Tea-Time Talks, focusing on health and wellbeing, held on Tuesday evenings from 6.15pm to 7.45pm. The series will kick off with a talk by Professor Andrew L. Clark, Chair of Clinical Cardiology at Hull York Medical School, on 'The world's number one killer: "can you save yourselves?"' on Tuesday 5 May.

The Culture Café will be celebrating postgraduate and postdoctoral research emerging from the Department of English on Wednesdays from 2pm to 4.30pm. In the first session, Emma Butcher will explore the Brontës' childhood writings on Wednesday 6 May.

Places are limited, so booking is essential. You can register online, or call Nicola Sharp or Jackie McAndrew on 01482 466321 / 466585.

Spotlight on HSPS: Sociology

Human, Social, and Political Sciences (HSPS) at Cambridge offers a unique range of related disciplines, which can be studied in many combinations, or with a concentration on a single discipline: you can work on Politics and International Relations, Social Anthropology, Biological Anthropology, Archaeology and / or Sociology. Many (or all) of these subjects will be new to you, so how do you know what's involved?

Sociology is the study of modern societies and how they are changing today. Ever wonder why nationalism is such a powerful force in the modern world? Why there are protests, riots, and uprisings? Why Europe is in crisis? Why politicians are not trusted? Why Africa is so poor? Why racism persists? Why same-sex marriage causes such controversy? How globalization is changing our lives? Whether societies could ever be more just? Then Sociology is the subject for you.

Read one or more of the books nominated for the new BSA / BBC Ethnography Award, for a study that has made a significant contribution to ethnography: the in-depth analysis of the everyday life of a culture or sub-culture. The nominees were introduced and reviewed on this week's Thinking Allowed

Café Scientifique: science for the price of a coffee

A Cafe Scientifique meeting in Reading, debating 'food out of season: good or evil?' Image credit: Karen Blakeman

Café Scientifique is a place where, for the price of a cup of coffee, anyone can come to explore the latest ideas in science and technology. Meetings take place in cafés, bars, restaurants and even theatres, but always outside a traditional academic context.

The Beverley Café meets on the last Wednesday every month. Its next meeting at 7.30pm on the 29 April will hear from David Sands on 'Entropy and the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics: unravelling the mysery'

The Durham Café meets at 3.45pm on Saturdays in termtime and outside of exam season! Their next meeting will be on 30 May, when James Currie will discuss interpretations of Quantum Mechanics.

The Newcastle Café is part of a broader Café Culture programme. The next meeting of their Café Scientifique will be at 7pm on 20 April, when Carl Heneghan will discuss 'Dangerous Drugs and Deadly Devices.'

The Stockton Café will hold its next meeting at 8pm on 21 April when Christine Watson will present on 'Crop Rotations: back to the future.'

Mathematics Open Morning at King's: Saturday 25 April

Are you thinking of studying Mathematics at Cambridge? Join us for the King's Mathematics Open Morning, followed by the Mathematics Faculty Open Afternoon on Saturday 25 April.

Prospective mathematicians arrive at 10.00 / 10.15 am and spend the morning at King's. You will have a talk and Q&A with an academic in Mathematics, a chance to meet current King's undergraduates studying Maths, and a tour of the College, as well as brunch in the College Hall.

In the afternoon we take you over to the Sidgwick Site where you can attend the Mathematics Faculty Open Afternoon (a series of taster lectures and information about STEP). The afternoon programme and further information is available on the Mathematics Faculty website. The event ends at 16.40.

Introduction to Archives Workshop for Sixth Formers at King's

Are you interested in finding out about and using archives in your work?

If so, King's College Archive Centre invites you to an Introduction to Archives Workshop on Friday 10 April, using the papers of Rupert Brooke.

Peter Monteith, an archivist at King's College, will explore approaches to using archives for research with you. You will then gain experience of archives, through an exploration of the life, poetry, and myth surrounding King's student and First World War poet Rupert Brooke.

The workshop will equip you to use the King's College Archive Centre yourself, either during an optional reading room session on the morning of Saturday 11 April (numbers limited) or at another time during the Centre's normal opening hours.

In addition, if you live in the UK and want to take the annual challenge paper (a 90 minute written paper which you take at your school or college in June), there is information about this on the UK lower 6th (Year 12) competition page.

Year 12 Subject Days at Emmanuel College, Cambridge

Emmanuel College, Cambridge is holding two Subject Taster Days for Year 12 students over the Easter vacation:

East Asian Studies Taster Day on Friday 17 April

English Taster Day on Saturday 18 April

As well as providing information about these Cambridge courses, the events will give students an opportunity to ask questions and speak to University Lecturers, College Tutors and current undergraduates. The events are free to attend and lunch will be provided. Students are welcome to attend this event unaccompanied. For more information and to book a place, please see the Emmanuel College website.

Year 12 Subject Days at St. John's College, Cambridge

What is it like to study Archaeology at university? What does it mean to be an Archaeologist in the modern world? Come along to St John’s College, Cambridge on the 23rd of March to find out! The day is run by a friendly mixture of Cambridge archaeologists and current students who will provide sample lectures, seminars and workshops designed to provide a real insight into life studying Archaeology at University. The day is free to attend and there is limited overnight accommodation available for those travelling from further away. For further information and the booking form, please see the St. John's College website.

Biological Sciences Study Days: 25and 27 March 2015

St John’s College will be hosting two Biological Sciences Subject Days. These days are aimed at Year 12 students taking at least two sciences at A Level (including Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics) who are interested in studying Biology and related fields at university. The day will include an exciting mix of lectures, supervision style workshops and information about making a competitive application. The day will also include a buffet lunch and a tour of the college. The event is free of charge and there is limited overnight accommodation for those that require it. For booking and further information please see the St. John's College website.

St. Catharine's Medicine Open Day

St. Catharine's College, Cambridge, is holding an open day on 30 June 2015 for high-achieving Year 12s interested in studying Medicine at the University of Cambridge. The day will give you a chance to hear talks from St. Catharine's Medicine Fellows, current pre-clinical and clinical students, and also experience a sample lecture. You will have time to look around St. Catharine's and the nearby lecture sites and have lunch in the college hall.

If you'd like to attend, please ask your teacher to nominate you (and up to three of your fellow students) using this form.

Trinity College Residentials for UK Sixth Formers in Cambridge

Trinity College, Cambridge is offering subject-specific residential visits in the Easter and Summer vacations. They are completely free, including accommodation and all meals, and they are open to applications from all students at UK schools who will be at least 16 by the first day of the residential.

Booking has now opened for the Humanities Residential which will take place during the Easter vacation from Tuesday 7 to Thursday 9 April.

Applications will be opening soon for the following residentials which will take place during the Summer vacation:

You can go to sample lectures, talks on learning a language from scratch and the Year Abroad, chat with lecturers, current students and staff from the Language Centre, visit the Linguistics Labs for Phonetics and Psycholinguistics, as well as the Faculty Library, and have lunch at one of the Colleges (we'll take you there and back).

For details and to book at place, do see the website here for the Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics Open Day. The Asian and Middle Eastern Studies Open Day is available to book here.

Exhibitions at the Kirkleatham Museum, East Cleveland

If you are interested in old Anglo-Saxon history, you might enjoy visiting the Kirkleatham Museum in Redcar & Cleveland, which is home to some important exhibitions:

The Saxon Princess
This popular exhibition is based on a six-year archeological project in East Cleveland, in which archaeologist Dr Steve Sherlock and local volunteers made some spectacular finds - a royal burial site and precious metal jewellery from an un-named Anglo-Saxon princess, dating back to the seventh century. See this short film of Steve Sherlock speaking about the area.

Street House before the Saxons
Linked to the Saxon Princess material, this second exhibition is based on Dr Steve Sherlock's other excavations between 1979 and 2004. Through photographs, films and archaeological objects, you can find out more about a Neolithic cairn from around 3,000 BC, Bronze Age burial sites and the remains of a timber house and timber circles that date from around 2,000 BC, as well as a Roman villa (AD 370) and Anglo-Saxon village.

Oxford and Cambridge Student Conference in Newcastle

Student conferences are a good opportunity to find out more from subject specialists, students and admissions staff

On 18 March 2015 there will be a free Oxford and Cambridge Student Conference in Newcastle (very close to the train station) for students in Year 12.

The conference covers courses available at Oxford and Cambridge (sessions led by subject specialists), Oxford and Cambridge Explained talks, and plenty of opportunities to chat with current students at both universities and find out what studying at Oxford and Cambridge is really like. You will need a teacher to book a ticket for you if you would like to attend - do read the information on the Oxford and Cambridge Student Conference website and ask a teacher to book your place.

Economics essay competition

The Royal Economic Society runs an annual competition for students studying Economics at school, with questions based on key elements of your syllabus.

You may find the questions set for this year's competition interesting to think about:

"Countries like Greece caused the Eurozone crisis by running up too much debt, so it is only fair that they should bear most of the burden of fixing it." Discuss.

Should the Government support manufacturing? If so, how?

Should raising GDP be the primary objective of economic policy?

"The rising gap between rich and poor is not just bad for society, it is bad for growth." Discuss.

Should "fracking" be allowed? If so, who should benefit?

"It is immoral for the drug companies to charge large sums for drugs that are cheap to manufacture." Discuss.

"High saving promotes faster growth. So having more savers in the global economy should be good for our long term prosperity."

"Does the economic case favour a new airport runway at Heathrow, Gatwick or elsewhere?"

You may also find it useful to look at the essay titles and winning entries from previous years (bottom of the page).

If you are studying Economics and are interested in entering an essay for this competition, do ensure that you read the full details and entry criteria on the Royal Economic Society website before you start work. The deadline for entry is Monday 30 June 2015.

Antarctic glaciers are beautiful and awe-inspiring. They affect us through their connections with the ocean and sea level, and environmental change is having rapid consequences in Antarctica. Antarctica is the world’s largest ice sheet, covering ~14,000,000 km2. Much of the ice sheet surface lies above 3000 m above sea level. This massive thickness of ice drowns whole mountain ranges, and numerous volcanoes exist underneath the icey exterior. It’s the world’s fifth largest continent, and it is, on average, the highest and coldest continent. Antarctica also provides a unique record of the Earth’s past climate, through the geomorphological record of glacier moraines, through ice cores, through deep sea sediment cores, and through past records of sea level rise.

More Year 12 Saturday Masterclasses open for booking!

Booking has opened for more Saturday Masterclasses in Cambridge for Year 12 students. These events provide you with an opportunity to explore topics of interest beyond what is covered within your school syllabus, and offer the chance to experience typical undergraduate teaching at Cambridge.

Sixth Form Philosophy Conference: 19 March

The University of Cambridge Faculty of Philosophy is holding a free one-day conference for Year 12 students.

The conference is open to those currently studying philosophy, or to those who are thinking of studying it at university. The day will consist of three lectures given by leading academic staff from the Faculty. The aim is to enrich and extend, rather than simply duplicate, the coverage of topics typically studied in school. There will also be a discussion session over buffet lunch for any teachers accompanying their students.

Places are limited, and are restricted to four students per school. Applications are now open, and must be made online by a member of school staff on behalf of their students. Applications close on 27 February ; schools will be notified of the outcome by 5 March 2015.

Medicine at Cambridge Science Festival

The Cambridge Science Festival will run from 9-22 March 2015. Events which may be of interest to prospective medics include both talks and activities, and the opportunity to visit the University's clinical facilties. Here are some of the relevant events:

What's on? Public lectures at a university near you

Universities share their latest research in public lectures, open to all, free of charge:

This week, Durham Castle Lecture Series continued with a talk by Dr. Ha Joon Chang from the University of Cambridge on 'Economics and Public Life: why everyone needs to learn (some) economics.' A video of his lecture will be available on the website shortly. Next time, Dr. Rowan Williams, formerly Archbishop of Canterbury, will lecture on 'The Tree of Knowledge: Bodies, Minds, and Thoughts' at 8pm on 18 February. Register for a free ticket in advance. Future speakers include Carol Ann Duffy, Poet Laureate.

The Triple Helix Science in Society Review

The Triple Helix is one of the science societies in Cambridge. Each term, it publishes the Science in Society Review, with articles spanning a range of scientific disciplines but with a common focus on the interactions between science and society.

If you are considering an application to study science at Cambridge, you may find Science in Society Review 6 from Lent term 2009 particularly useful: This was a special issue about Cambridge's rich history of science and discovery, produced for the University's 800th anniversary.

Would you like to get a short article published in the next issue of Science in Society Review? The society is running a science writing competition for sixth form students in the UK and will publish the winning entries. If you would like to take part, please read the competition details and submission form. The deadline for submissions is 21 February 2015.

Education at Cambridge

Cambridge is one of only a few universities to offer a degree in Education as an academic discipline. In the course of three years you explore Education as a broad social science, tackling its history, philosophy, psychology, and sociology. You combine your studies in Education with another subject, choosing from Biological or Physical Sciences, English, English and Drama, Modern and Medieval Languages, Classics, Geography, History, Music, or Religious Studies. Whilst the Education degree may be a route into teaching, educational psychology, research, policy, or publishing, it also opens up a wide range of career paths outside of Education. King's doesn't offer the Education degree, but you can apply to study it at most Cambridge colleges.

If you go to the cinemas and tickets page, you can look up what you could see near to where you live. For example, venues in Northumberland include The Maltings in Berwick upon Tweed, The Forum in Hexham, The Alnwick Playhouse and Vue cinemas in Cramlington.

Further information about the Royal Shakespeare Company is available on their website.

Year 12 UNIQ Summer Schools at Oxford University

UNIQ is a programme of free summer schools at the University of Oxford. UNIQ is open to students studying in their first year of further education and who are based at UK state schools/colleges. Choose from a wide range of courses and spend a week attending lectures and seminars in Oxford in July or August. Applications close on 12 February, so get going now!

There is a Cambridge Science Festival app, which you can search for on iTunes or Google Play.

Examples of talks:

Mon 9 March (17:30 - 18:30) - There's no business like flow business (age 15+)
Inreasingly cells are providing us with answers. Scientists at the Babraham Institute carry out vital research on cells and cellular processes to learn how the body works and how it changes as we age. In this lecture, Rachel Walker and Becky Newman explain flow cytometry and how how it takes us a step further in understanding cells and cell populations.
(Booking required)

Tues 10 March (17:00 - 18:00) - Colour, new dimensions, and the geometry of physics (age 15+)
Professor Frank Wilczek from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is one of the leading theoretical physicists of our time. Known for his discovery of asymptotic freedom, for which he received the Nobel Prize in 2004, his research ranges across particle physics, astrophysics and condensed matter physics.
(booking required)

Thurs 12 March (18:00 - 19:00) - Melioidosis:biothreat infection and paddy-field disease (age 15+)
Professor Sharon Peacock is a clinical microbiologist in the Department of Medicine, and works closely with Public Health England and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Intitute. In this talk, Professor Peacock shows how sequencing techniques can be applied to to study of Melioidosis, an infectious disease of tropical climates.
(booking required)

Fri 13 March (18:00 - 19:00) - Searching for intelligence in the legs: robots that walk, run and dance (age 15+)
Although there is enormous success in the use of robotic arms for the automation industry, robotic legs are very challenging to be engineered and used in our daily lives. Dr Fumiya Lida discusses why legs are so special, and whether we will see robots running around in the near future.
(booking required)

Essay competitions can be a good opportunity to get your teeth into an interesting and relevant question and to develop your research and argument skills. You will see in the competition details that the assessors will be looking at a range of factors, including how well your argument is sustained, the quality of your language, and how well you have used appropriate supporting material and facts in evidence for your arguments. Of course, these are questions it is worth asking yourself about all of your written work, whether for a competition or not!

Year 11 and Year 12 Subject Taster events at Newcastle University

Booking is open for Newcastle University's Discover More events on Wednesday 11 March and Wednesday 25 March 2015.

If you are in Year 11 or Year 12, these events give you an opportunity to find out more about what studying your subject at university level is like, as well as gaining insights into future career possibilities.

Oxford Pathways: Year 12 Study Days on 17, 18, 19 March

The Oxford Pathways Programme is now taking bookings for its Year 12 Study Days on 17, 18 and 19 March. Subjects on offer range from Biomedical Sciences to Earth Sciences, History to Economics and Management, and Classics to German. The Study Days are open to Year 12 students, at non-selective state schools or colleges in the UK, who have the potential to make a competitive application to Oxford University. See a sample timetable and book online. There is some accommodation available, free of charge, for those who are travelling furthest: make your request on the booking form. Applications close this Friday 30 January, so act swiftly!

Teesside University Psychology Sixth Form Conference

Teesside University is holding a Psychology Sixth Form Conference next Wednesday (4 February). Teesside staff and students will introduce you to diverse and topical aspects of psychology, including forensic psychology, counselling, educational psychology, and sports psychology. Year 12s and 13s (and mature students) can sign up online now, either as individuals or in school groups.

Year 12 Studying Music Taster Days

King's Musicians

The Faculty of Music here in Cambridge is running Studying Music Taster Days for Year 12s on Monday 2 March and Friday 13 March. You will experience the teaching and facilities on offer at the Faculty, whilst meeting fellow Music students from across the UK. The day will include a sample lecture, a tour of a college, a practical session and a Q&A session with current undergraduates.

Whether or not you decide to study Music at Cambridge, there is a very active and diverse Music scene across the University and its colleges, with opportunities for every interest and standard!

VetCam 2015: introduction to Veterinary Science at Cambridge University

The Department of Veterinary Science is running a two-day residential course for year 12 students from Monday 30 - Tuesday 31 March in Cambridge. It is intended to provide an insight into both the preclinical and clinical courses and will include a mix of lectures, discussions, demonstrations and tours. Please see the Department website for more information.

The course costs £160, but there are a limited number of bursaries available for students from backgrounds with little or no experience of higher education, which will cover both the cost of the course and transport to and from Cambridge. Please email
asap for more information as the deadline for applying for bursaries is 30 January.

Would you like to find out more about living and studying in a Cambridge College? There are places available on Year 12 (or equivalent) residential visits at Robinson College and at Trinity Hall College. Visiting any College will give you a good sense of what being part of a collegiate university is like and what is most important to you when you later choose a College. It will also help you to develop your course interests and find out more about how you will be taught at Cambridge.

Classics & Ancient History Essay Competition

St John's College, Oxford is running an essay competition for UK students in Year 12 (or equivalent) who are interested in Classics & Ancient History.

The essay titles include:

Is it possible to write ancient Greek or Roman history without cities at its centre?

Who and /or what are missing from our archaeological record of the ancient world? Consider what types of objects survive and who they represent.

If you are interested in thinking about these kinds of questions or researching and writing an essay for the competition, do go to the St John's College Oxford website, where you will find a full list of titles and the submission details for the competition. The deadline for submissions is 4 pm on Thursday 26th February 2015.

Year 12 Sutton Trust Summer Schools

Booking is open for the Year 12 Sutton Trust Summer Schools in Cambridge! These are very popular subject-specific residentials in July and August for students in Year 12 (or equivalent) at state-maintained schools in the UK. The programme includes lectures, seminars, discussion groups, practical work and social activities, as well as the opportunity to meet current staff and students and to live in a Cambridge College. The residentials are free of charge.

The Sutton Trust Summer Schools provide a very useful insight into what it is like to study at Cambridge so do apply for a place if you are interested. Equally, please be aware that we receive far more applications than we have places available. It is important to read the detailed criteria for selection.

Year 12 Subject Masterclasses in Cambridge

Booking is open for some subject masterclasses organised by the central Cambridge Admissions Office. These masterclasses take place on Saturdays in February and are for students in Year 12 (the penultimate year of school).

The subjects are:

Classics

Linguistics

Medicine

Chemistry

Genetics and Biochemistry

Modern and Medieval Languages

History

Philosophy and Theology

...and if the course you want to study is not in that list, don't worry because further masterclasses will be announced later this year.

For more detail, please read the information about Subject Masterclasses on the Cambridge Admissions website. If you would like to book a place, he link is available in the table on that page.

Going deeper into Mathematics

If you like (or dislike!) mathematics, what is it about the subject that makes you feel this way? What does studying mathematics at unviersity level involve, and how can you work out if you will enjoy it?

We advise students who are curious about maths (and subjects related to maths) to read the following explanation of rich mathematics:

Year 12 Science / Medicine Essay Competition

Suppose you could create a new checmical element. What physical and chemical properties would you ascribe to it, and what uses could this element be put to?

If you could take one item, which must fit in your pocket, back to the year 1800 with the goal of advancing science or medicine, what would it be and what would you do with it?

Is it more important to save tropical forests or the world's oceans? Why?

How far is it to the moon?

"Free health care at the point of delivery trivialises the service." Discuss.

These are the questions that Peterhouse College is asking Year 12 students to think about for this year's Kelvin Science Prize. If you are interested in researching and writing one of these essays, please read the information carefully on the Peterhouse College website (see especially the Kelvin Science Prize pdf here, which contains full details of the questions and how to enter). The deadline is 20 March 2015.

Drop into the Culture Café, which this term is focusing on Literature and Creative Writing. On Saturday 6 December at 11am, Dr. Daniel Weston, Lecturer in Twentieth-Century English Literature, is discussing 'Poetry for the City? Philip Larkin and Others.' This is part of the North and South Project, a collaboration betwen the University of Hull and the University of Southampton to explore what unites and divides their respective port cities. Next term's programme for the Culture Café is already available here.

Join a Tea-Time Talk, a series which launched this term around the theme of Society and Culture. On Tuesday 2 December at 6.15pm, Dr. Simon Green, Senior Lecturer in Community Justice and Criminology, explores 'Deviancy, destitution and moral degeneracy.' Why, he asks, do politicians and commentators increasingly explain crime and disorder with reference to moral character, instead of socio-economic conditions?

Excellence Hub for Yorkshire and Humberside

University taster events show you what studying a subject in depth at university-level would be like. Credit: John Robinson

The Excellence Hub for Yorkshire and Humberside is an exciting collaboration between the universities of Hull, Leeds, Sheffield and York to provide enrichment events through the year for students who have been identified as high achieving by their schools or colleges.

The events are open to students across the UK. You can apply to attend the events as an individual, or one of your teachers can apply for a group from your school to attend. Priority for places is given to students who meet one of the criteria below, then the remaining places are given to students who do not meet the criteria. Some events are for Year 12 students, others are for younger students.

Priority criteria:

eligible to receive free school meals.

no history of higher education (studying at university level) in your immediate family (including any siblings).

living in local authority care.

Do keep an eye on this project. Further events will be advertised on the Excellence Hub website in due course.

Year 12 Politics and International Relations Essay Competition

Here is some food for thought from an essay competition set by Corpus Christi College:

Is economic globalisation helping or hurting democracy in the world?

Are most citizens knowledgeable enough to vote in their own interest at the ballot box?

Should democracies try to promote regional stability in their foreign policies even if that means supporting authorotarian regimes?

Is it desirable to limit the effects of money on politics even if doing so inhibits freedom of political expression?

Would eliminating all nuclear weapons make the world a safer or more dangerous place?

Which question do you find most interesting? What approach would you take? Can you think of /research some examples to draw on?

If you are in Year 12 (the penultimate year of school in the UK) and would like to enter the competition itself, please see the details (the deadline is 15 February 2015). Further essay competitions are available in Law, English, Theology and Computer Science.

Year 12 STEP Correspondence Project

Cambridge (funded by the Department for Education) is offering a pilot correspondence course to Year 12 prospective mathematicians from UK state schools. This course is designed for students who would not normally receive much support for STEP Mathematics exams in Year 13.

In order to be eligible to take part, you must be:

studying at a state-maintained school or academy in the UK

taking, or about to take, Further Mathematics at A-level (or equivalent).

Headstart: Try Before You Apply

Are you a student who loves science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) and is currently in Year 12, Scottish S5? Are you thinking about what you might like to study at university, but find it difficult to make up your mind?

Cambridge Year 12 Law Conference

The annual Year 12 Cambridge Law Conference will take place from 16-19 March 2015.

Students on the conference have accommodation in one of the Cambridge Colleges. The mornings will be lectures with Cambridge University lecturers and speakers from the legal profession, then in the afternoons there are workshops run by City Law Firms and Barristers Chambers, helping you to develop relevant skills such as debating, advocay and negotiation. You will also be taken on a tour of Cambridge, attend a session on applying for Law at Cambridge, and have chance to visit some of the Colleges. The first evening is a social event, and later during the week there is a debate in the Cambridge Union between high-profile barristers and a mock trial.

There is a charge for this conference: it costs £150, which includes all meals, accommodation, lectures , workshops and tours. If you need advice on funding for this, there is an email address to write to so do look into it on the applications page.

Hot air balloon problem

A hot air balloon of mass 350 kg is carrying 5 people each of mass 70kg. The total volume of the baloon is 2800m3.

The balloon flies horizontally in dry air 1km above sea level. The atmopheric pressure at this altitude is 89.9kPa and the surrounding temperature is 9ºC. Given that the molar mass of dry air is 28.97g/mol, work out the temperature of the heated air inside the balloon. (You can take gas constant R=8.31J/mol K and you may assume that air behaves as an ideal gas).

Physics. You work it out.

The Rutherford Physics Partnership runs an online platform for prospective Physicists, Engineers, and Mathematicians called Isaac Physics. It will help you to bridge the gap between your A Level and undergraduate studies by working through problems online.

Philosophy: Comment on the relationship between mortality and religion;

Politics: Explore the idea of secularism and national politics;

Science: Address the relationship between religion and a topic from the natural sciences;

Sociology: Consider how an awareness of religion helps understandings of multiculturalism.

Cambridge Divinity Faculty encourages sixth formers to research and think about one of the topics above in a team of up to four 16-19 year olds. The challenge is to produce a film lasting no more than five minutes in response to your chosen topic. This should be academic in content, but the film could take any form: debates, documentaries or responses with artistic elements are all welcome.

Dr. Gildenhard gave an example of how his colleagues in different caucuses each brought a different approach to the study of Ovid's Ars Amatoria [The Art of Love] in a recent lecture series:

A: Poetics, or: The (S)expert at Work

B: Sexual Ethics [gender relations, feminist readings]

C: The Empire Strikes Back [Ovid and Augustus, the politics of the Ars, Ovid’s banishment to the Black Sea]

D: Sex and the City [Ovid and the monuments, his rewriting of Rome’s urban topography]

E: The Language of Love (and Sex) [how can we understand the different range of meanings of Latin words to English dictionary equivalents - does raptor mean ‘rapist’ or ‘seducer’? and how does it relate to rapina and rapio?]

The students and academics gain enormously from exploring these multidisciplinary perspectives. If and when they combine two or more approaches to address a particular topic, thereby transcending any one discipline, their work becomes interdisciplinary.

Multidisciplinarity is not restricted to Classics! You will be able to find multidisciplinary (and interdisciplinary) approaches to almost any topic. Have you got the X Factor? Think of a topic that has caught your attention in one of your A Level subjects and ask yourself what your knowledge and skills in your other A Level subjects can bring to it.

Cambridge Physics Lectures

The Cambridge Physics department runs a series of lectures through the year for Year 12 and Year 13 students. These are free to attend and you can just turn up (no need to book).

The first lecture this year is on Tues 14 October 2014, when Dr Colin Wright will speak on the Physics of Juggling. For further information about this and future lectures, please see the details on the department website:

Freshers' reading groups

There's a great atmosphere in College as we help the new students to settle in.

Amongst the many activities that take place in Freshers' Week to settle new students into the College community, there are discussion groups in which tutors and students across all subjects meet to discuss a book that everybody has read in advance. This year's book is:

Monbiot is a journalist and activist who read Zoology at University. He presents his book as a polemic for "positive environmentalism". The book consists of a series of essays designed to promote the cultural and economic change that will be necessary to precede any ecological shift. On some level Feral is a radical book with a radical argument, however the question for the King's freshers is how substantial, how convincing is Monbiot's argument and his evidence, and how much of it is the ideological enchantment of a liberal public intellectual?

If you fancy reading this book for yourself, you may be interested to think about how Monbiot establishes the veracity of his claims. How scientific is his thesis of "rewilding"? Does the book survive the lengthy anecdotal descriptions of his natural encounters, enchanting though they are? And is it telling that Monbiot is male, enjoys risky outdoor activity and has his moment of epiphany when he slings a dead deer over his shoulders and carries it home? Do you think that he would have a different environmentalism if he weren't so enamored by the wild in him? Or should we be cautious about any dismissal of his honesty? He discusses the effects of logging and mining on Yanomami lands at some length (and spent a fair amount of his own time experiencing it) - it is fair to say that his "rewilding" is borne of some knowledge of different cultural ecologies? Finally, do you think that we should be encouraged by this book, or discouraged?

Literature & Languages at Cambridge Festival of Ideas

The Cambridge Festival of Ideas is a full programme of mostly free events encouraging you to explore the arts, humanities and social sciences, meet academics and students, and engage with the University.

Festival events with relevance to language and literature subjects include:

Year 12 Shadowing Scheme 2015

Find out for yourself what living and studying at Cambridge is really like

If you are in Year 12 at a UK school and nobody from your family has studied at university / not many from your school have got places at Oxford and Cambridge, you might like to find out more by applying for a place on the CUSU Shadowing Scheme.

If you get a place, you would be invited to spend a few days in Cambridge, living in one of the Colleges and "shadowing" a current student studying the subject that you are interested in, that is, going to lectures, supervisions, social activities etc with them. It's a really good way to get a taste of what studying here is really like so do read the details if you think that you might be eligible to apply.

Social Sciences at Cambridge Festival of Ideas

The Cambridge Festival of Ideas is a full programme of mostly free events encouraging you to explore the arts, humanities and social sciences, meet academics and students, and engage with the University.

Maths / Physics lectures

The Millenium Maths Project has put films of some recent lectures for sixth form students up online. These were given at an event for 16 and 17 year olds, which took place at Cambridge University on 27 June this year.

Law in Action

If you are interested in studying Law at university, it can be helpful to get some feel for the law in action, for example by observing a local court in session. You could visit your local Magistrates' and/or County Courts (or regional equivalent, such as the Sheriff Court in Scotland).

Law Virtual Classroom

If you want to study Law at university and have not studied the subject formally before, you might enjoy Pembroke College's virtual classroom.

Through exercises in the Understanding Law and Legal Skills sections, this resource aims to give you a better understanding of the nature and function of law, as well as some of the debates that surround the law. It will also help you to develop some of the skills involved in studying and practising law.

How Chemistry Changed the First World War (Cambridge, 11 September)

If you are interested in History and/or Chemistry and live close to Cambridge, you might be interested to attend Michael Freemantle's public lecture on how “The Great War” was a Chemists’ War.

The lecture will discuss how Chemistry underpinned military strategy and determined the shape, duration and outcome of the First World War. Chemistry was not only a destructive instrument of war but also protected troops, and healed the sick and wounded. From bullets to bombs, poison gases to anaesthetics, khaki to cordite, Chemistry played a pivotal role in the trenches, in the casualty clearing stations and military hospitals, in the tunnelling operations in the air, and at sea.

Based on your travel experiences, write a feature article of no more than 500 words in your chosen target language (French, German, Spanish, or Italian). You could win a £50 Amazon voucher for your efforts! The closing date for the competition is 1 September and the winners will announced on the European Day of Languages (26 September).

Languages Summer School at Sidney Sussex College - places available!

Sidney Sussex College is running a residential summer school for Language-based subjects on 18-20 August this year. If you are in Year 12 and considering an application to study languages at Cambridge, please do apply for this opportunity!

Through sample lectures, classes and small group tuition you will have the opportunity to see what it is like studying languages at university level, find out more about languages and cultures themselves, and mix with other students from all over the country who share your interests. You will also experience the College environment, which will be helpful whichever Cambridge College you eventually apply to.

There is no charge for the summer school. If you are eligible for free school meals, Sidney Sussex may be able to help with travel costs.

On interviews

One of the things that interviewers look for is genuine interest. Image credit: THX0477

We interview most people who apply to Cambridge (more than 80%). It is in interviews that subject specialists are able to work with you directly, see how you think and work, and really explore your academic potential for the course that you've applied for.

We hope that you will find the following new Cambridge University film useful, and we particularly hope that it will put any summer work that you are doing to develop your interests into context!

Chemical engineering is all about changing raw materials into useful products you use everyday in a safe and cost effective way. For example petrol, plastics and synthetic fibres such as polyester and nylon, all come from oil. Chemical engineers understand how to alter the chemical, biochemical or physical state of a substance, to create everything from face creams to fuels.

Edgar Jones Philosophy Essay Competition (Year 12)

If you have just finished Year 12 and are looking for some Philosophy questions to get your teeth into during the summer, you may be interested in the 2014 Edgar Jones Philosophy Essay Competition which is being held by St Peter's College, Oxford.

You are asked to choose one of the following two questions:

Does the fact that our senses can deceive mean that we can have no perceptual knowledge?

Could you be a bad person and yet do the right thing all the time?

The closing date for submissions is 12 September 2014, there's a word limit of 2000 words, and you will notice that the judges are looking for clarity of thought and expression and cogency in your arguments in particular. Do read the full details on the St Peter's College website before you start your research!

The Euro and Its Impact

What does economics tell us about the operation of single currency areas and currency unions (such as the Eurozone)?

This is one of the questions that the Euro and Its Impact resource asks you to consider. This pdf was produced by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), and is designed for sixth formers with an interest in economic affairs and policy. It provides information on the topic as well as suggestions for further reading.

If you would like to find out more about the Institute of Economic Affairs and what it does, do have a look at its IEA website. If you have a particular area of interest, you may find the policy areas section useful for finding relevant material.

Trinity College's Robson History Prize (Year 12)

What is to be gained by studying the histories of seas or oceans?
Image credit: AvidlyAbide

If you are interested in History (including historical aspects of a wide range of courses from Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic to Economics, Philosophy and Theology) why not think about some of the questions that Trinity College has set for their Robson History Prize? There's a wide choice of 59 titles, so you are bound to find a topic that you would enjoy studying.

Here are just a few of them:

What was the role and influence of Queens in Anglo-Saxon England?

Was the Hundred Years War really a single conflict?

What were the causes of the European ‘witchcraze’ in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries?

What sort of a revolution was the French revolution?

How did the Atlantic slave trade affect state formation and economic growth in West Africa?

Why was the Spanish civil war so bloody?

‘The Attlee government’s failure to create a socialist commonwealth was as much due to ideological shortcomings as economic constraints.’ Discuss.

To what extent do market forces pose a threat to the accuracy of popular history?

Is the goal of Aristotle’s Politics to arrive at a theory of the best state?

If you would like to work on an essay to enter in the competition, the deadline is 1 August and do make sure that you read the full details (including the full list of titles) on Trinity College's website before you start. If you don't have chance or don't want to do that, do have a look at the titles nonetheless as there's plenty of inspiration for research and thought.

Pierre Bourdieu: What affects our tastes?

For Bourdieu, cultural consumption is 'an act of deciphering, decoding, which presupposes practical or explicit mastery of a cipher'. Renoir image credit: freeparking

How much is taste shaped by education and social influences? Pierre Bourdieu was a French sociologist, anthropologist and philosopher who looked into these questions, most famously in his 1975 book, Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgement of Taste.

In the introduction, Bourdieu writes:

Taste classifies, and it classifies the classifier. Social subjects, classified by their classifications, distinguish themselves by the distinctions they make, between the beautiful and the ugly, the distinguished and the vulgar, in which their position in the objective classifications is expressed or betrayed.

Bourdieu collected information through questionnaires which asked people questions about their tastes in art, literature, music etc. For example, he compared preferences for different musical pieces and charted these against information about each particpant's social background:

Bourdieu's text includes diagrams and charts which plot his results and show correlations that he found in the data. A key idea in this book is that of 'cultural capital', that is, 'assets' that people acquire, such as education and cultural experience, which can affect social mobility regardless of financial means.

If you have the opportunity to look at Bourdieu's work, do have a think about this way of looking at taste. Do you agree / disagree / recognise aspects of it? Can you think of any examples in modern culture and society? What do you think of the way that Bourdieu collected and used his data? Does his work have wider implications for questions of taste, sociology and identity?

Engineering - how to prepare for an application

A bulk superconductor over a magnet

King's Electrical Engineer, Mark Ainslie, is looking at how superconductors can make electric motors work better, and is part of a team that has just broken the world record for the strongest trapped magnetic field in a bulk high-temperature superconductor:

Viktor Shklovsky: making things strange

In his 1917 essay, 'Art as Technique', Russian writer Viktor Shklovsky argues that often we don't notice things because they are familiar to us. However, art (a term that Shklovsky uses in a broad sense to include literary writing) can present things in a strange or unfamiliar way, which makes us look at them for longer:

Habitualization devours work, clothes, furniture, one's wife, and the fear of war. "If the whole complex lives of many people go on unconsciously, then such lives are as if they had never been." [Shklovsky is quoting Tolstoy's diary] And art exists that one may recover the sensation of life; it exists to make one feel things, to make the stone stony. The purpose of art is to impart the sensation of things as they are perceived and not as they are known. The technique of art is to make objects "unfamiliar," to make forms difficult, to increase the difficulty and length of perception because the process of perception is an aesthetic end in itself and must be prolonged. Art is a way of experiencing the artfulness of an object.

What do you think of Shklovsky's description of the purpose of literary writing? Does his argument apply to all literary texts? Are there genres where you would expect to find this technique more frequently? Can you think of any examples in texts you have read / are reading where something is presented in a strange way that makes you notice it? And can you think of any limitations to Shklovsky's argument?

Medicine essay competition (Year 12)

'I have three supervisions every two weeks, requiring me to write an essay for each.' Shedeh (Medicine).
Photo credit: rhodesj

Are you interested in studying Medicine? As well as needing a strong grounding in your sciences/maths subjects (which is likely to need most of your focus), it's worth remembering that the course requires you to write regular short essays for supervisions. Robinson College is holding an essay competition for prospective Medicine students. The deadline for entries is 1 August 2014, and you can choose between three essay titles.

Architecture - Exploring spaces

What catches your eye? If you're thinking of studying Architecture at university, the summer is a great time to practice your drawing skills, to have a go at capturing your interests with a camera, and to think about the spaces and effects that you notice around you through explorative work in a range of media.

You can do this very well on your own, following your interests. You might like to read the information about portfolios if you would like some advice about work that you can later use in an application to Cambridge, and there are also some examples of application portfolios available - see Portfolio 1 and Portfolio 2.

If you are looking for events to attend, as well as any websites about what is on in your local area, RIBA (The Royal Institute of British Architects) has a good What's On? page for events up and down the UK, or you can look up events all over the world on the e-architect website.

The 2014 Cambridge Open Days Programme is published!

The large Cambridge Open Days are on Thurs 3 and Fri 4 July. This event is for students who are considering an application in September/October 2014.

Do explore the 2014 Cambridge Open Days programme for details of course presentations and sample lectures in your subject, College opening times and locations. If you are interested in visiting a particular College, their website will normally have more detail. At King's, we're open from 9 until 5.30pm as part of the Cambridge Open Days, and we invite you to join tours of the College, subject meetings (students only for those) and chat with current students and admissions staff. See the details for Thurs 3 July and for Fri 4 July.

We hope to see you there! If you can't attend, don't worry though, as the information that you need to make a successful application is also available online, and you are welcome to email us with any questions.

Are you going to a UCAS Higher Education Convention?

There are lots of UCAS Higher Education Conventions on at the moment. These are a great opportunity to talk to reps from different universities and explore your options further. There will be a lot of people there, so our advice is to make a list of the universities that you particularly want to talk to, and also to think about what questions you will ask them before the event. Good luck!

English Literature essay competition (Year 12)

It's important not just to read, but to think about the books.
Credit: Robert (cropped)

Essay titles from Trinity College:

'Homer and the other poets... composed false stories which they told and still tell to mankind.' (Plato); 'Now, for the poet, he nothing affirmeth, and therefore never lieth.' (Philip Sidney). Discuss any aspect of the relationship between literature and lying, with detailed reference to at least one work.

'The only advice, indeed, that one can give another about reading is to take no advice, to follow your instincts, to use your own reason, to come to your own conclusions.' (Virginia Woolf). How much is reading a matter of instinct, how much is it a matter of reason, and does reading ever bring instinct and reason into conflict? Discuss with reference to one or more works.

These are just two of the six possible essay titles that Trinity College, Cambridge has set for students who would like to enter their Gould Prize for essays in English Literature (open to students in Year 12). See the Trinity College website for full details (including the rest of the possible essay titles). The submission deadline is 1 August 2014. Good luck to those who enter!

Summer Science Exhibition in London (1-6 July)

The Royal Society has an annual display of the most exciting cutting-edge science and technology in the UK, including everything from artifical intelligence and car crash investigation to tropical storms, ultrasonic waves, and immune-bacterial interactions

Do make a note if you live close enough to visit. The dates are 1-6 July this year, and the exhibition will take place at 6-9 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AG (near Charring Cross tube station).

Gender in Japanese Studies - Free book for your school library?

A book of undergraduate dissertations was published last year, exploring emerging and divergent gender issues in Japan. It is called Manga Girl Seeks Herbivore Boy: Studying Japanese Gender at Cambridge, and it offers some fascinating insights into modern Japanese culture and society, as well as a great way to get a flavour of the kinds of material that you could study if you choose Japanese in the Asian and Middle Eastern Studies course (even if you've never studied Japanese before!). To find out more about the book, read the news article.

In order to introduce Japanese Studies, the department is offering a free copy to 50 school libraries. Why not ask your school librarian to click here for further information and the request form!

Free Taster Day in Latin and Classics - Saturday 21 June

If you're considering an application for Classics at Cambridge and you've never studied Latin at school or college, we invite you to book a place on a free taster day in Cambridge on Saturday 21 June. Fifty travel bursaries of up to £50.00 are available on a first come, first served basis.

Treating MS - science and clinical trials

When a patient has MS (Multiple Sclerosis), the immune system begins to attack the body's own healthy nerve cells. The disease strips away their protective sheath, and prevents electrical signals from moving effectively between the brain and the body.

Researchers at Cambridge have been working on a treatment for MS for some time, and the drug that they have developed was recently approved for use in people with MS. The following film explains the science and clinical trials behind this:

Celebrating Dickens

The University of Warwick have a Celebrating Dickens website, on which you can access articles, videos, podcasts, and a documentary about different aspects of the work of Charles Dickens and the Victorian era in which he lived. There's also a mobile app if you prefer.

Problem-solving website for Engineering

When you're doing exercises in maths and physics, how much do you feel like you're relying on previous examples that you have memorised, and how much time do you spend problem solving, or working on a kind of question that requires more thought?

Cambridge University Engineering Department has a website designed for developing and practicing problem solving in many contexts - do explore this resource:

Literature of the liberation (1944-1946)

Cambridge University Library

What sort of books do you think were published in France just after the liberation of Paris in 1944? This website and film are part of an exhibition at Cambridge University Library exploring the first writings of French authors on their experiences in the War, occupation and liberation.

Once Paris was free and the Vichy government had collapsed, there was no more censorship. Books were published even while the War was still being fought in some parts of France.

If you're near enough to also visit, this free exhibition is open from 7 May until 11 October. See details for visiting.